Health conditionalities in the Bolsa Família program – Brazil: an analysis through health professionals

Abstract

This study presents the perception of professionals from Family Health teams in Brazilian Northeastern towns regarding changes in the life of families participating in the Bolsa Família program, their relation to health services, and the impact on the working dynamics of professionals, by monitoring the health conditionalities of the Bolsa Família program. Information was obtained by means of semi-structured interviews and focus group meetings. Professionals believe that the program brought up favorable changes to the life of participating families, such as reducing poverty, increasing children’s school attendance, and positive changes in the relation between participating families and health services. However, they reported difficulties with an organizational nature in monitoring conditionalities, above all due to increased work demand. It is important that health conditionalities provide opportunities to carry out actions that aim at subject’s empowerment and autonomy regarding self-care and citizenship development.