Performance evaluation of health councils in small and medium-sized municipalities

Abstract

Our paper aimed at evaluating the performance of health councils (HC) in small and medium-sized municipalities in Brazil. This is an evaluative research. We used the spidergram method adapted to the HC reality. The evaluation matrix was composed of five dimensions: autonomy, organization, representativeness, community engagement and political influence. The study was developed in Nova Canaã and Itapetinga, state of Bahia, based on document analysis, observation of meetings, and interviews with 31 councils members. We used thematic content analysis to categorize the data. The HC showed a low level of performance, with more unfavorable results to the smaller town. We identified limited autonomy, with weaknesses in technical support, physical structure and financial independence. The organization dimension identified non-compliance with meeting scheduling and absence of thematic commissions. A weak relationship between the representatives and the organizations were observed. The dimension related to community engagement indicated empty HC and low representatives’ participation. The political influence dimensions showed limited capacity of HC to interfere in local health policies. The adaptation of the evaluative matrix has proved to be timely and appropriate to the reality of the Brazilian HC. Two cases evaluated showed weaknesses in the participatory process and in the political influence capacity.