A biopolitical analysis of the official discourse about health education for diabetic patients in Brazil

Authors

  • Lucas Pereira de Melo Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte; Centro de Ensino Superior do Seridó

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/sausoc.v22i4.76514

Abstract

In the Brazilian context of epidemiologic transition, chronic illnesses have assumed a special place in healthcare policies. In this sense, health education has been a tool to promote "healthy" life-styles and adhesion to treatment. Among those illnesses, diabetes mellitus stands out. Currently, diabetes is regarded as an important public health problem. Given this fact, the aim of this study was to analyze the official discourse about diabetics' health education in the years 2000 in Brazil. The analysis was guided by the concepts of biopolitics and discursive practices of Michel Foucault. A bibliographic review was conducted on two documents published by Brazilian Government: the Manual on Hipertension and Diabetes mellitus (Manual de Hipertensão arterial e Diabetes mellitus), 2002; and the Primary Care notebook no. 16 (Diabetes Mellitus) (Caderno de Atenção Básica, número 16, Diabetes Mellitus), 2006. These publications have oriented the practices of healthcare professionals over the last 10 years. The documents were obtained at the website of the Virtual Library of the Brazilian Healthcare Ministry. The general features of the official discourse; the aims of health education actions to people with diabetes; the thematic broached in these actions; the technical and moral imperative to carry out the educational practices and the parameters for evaluation and follow-up of the patients were analyzed. Hereafter, the configuration of tensions and resistances in the health education field for the population were exposed. The analysis of the official discourse allows a critical comprehension and raises questions about the complex relationships between the objects which are put on discourse in educational practices on health for people with diabetes in Brazil.

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Published

2013-12-01

Issue

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nao definida

How to Cite

A biopolitical analysis of the official discourse about health education for diabetic patients in Brazil. (2013). Saúde E Sociedade, 22(4), 1216-1225. https://doi.org/10.1590/sausoc.v22i4.76514