Socio-historical determinants of care in the Family Health Strategy: a user perspective in the rural area

Abstract

This study aimed to identify socio-historical determinants assigned by users to their experience of care in the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in the rural area of the municipality of Sacramento (Southeastern Brazil). This exploratory study with a qualitative approach used the focus group technique to collect data and content analysis to interpret the results. Three groups were formed with representatives from three out of six rural areas, totaling 36 subjects, twelve in each group. They lived in the rural area, had been FHS users for at least two years, and were chosen based on enrollment records of families in the FHS under study. From the perspective of historical materialism, the content analysis of the groups concentrated on four categories: availability, access to resources, social movement and material conditions. The results showed user satisfaction regarding the team's availability to provide care and tact in relationships, engagement in maintaining the health conditions, and action in the socio-historical dimension of the health/disease process in order to improve life and work conditions. There was dissatisfaction with the organizational aspect, referring to everything that is still insufficient, poor or non-existent in communities. We observed, in the team's actions, the development of capacities in the community that ensured their social rights and politicization. We conclude that the confrontation of the health/disease process by the community and by the FHS team involves other elements, in addition to technical and scientific knowledge, which determine the symmetry of the professional/user bond, enabling joint production of health in the community.