Community Health Aides: possibilities and limits to health promotion

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify the actions performed by community health aides (CHA) and perform an analysis according to the health promotion paradigm. To do this, an exploratory, quantitative study was performed with the CHA's from São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil. Results showed that most HCA's complete the following competencies: team integration with the local population; prevention and monitoring of environmental and sanitary risk; and prevention and monitoring of specific groups and morbidities. However, it was also found that planning and evaluation of health actions and health promotion are competencies that are performed heterogeneously. In conclusion, there is a need to improve CHA competence in health promotion towards the empowerment of the community in addition to improving action between sectors.