Editorial

Abstract

The year 2006 ends up with important achievements for Brazilian society as a whole and, in particular, for the field of public health. It was a year with democratic participation, with the elections for Brazilian president, governors, senators and congressmen, consolidating our democracy. We also hosted the Brazilian Congress of Collective Health and the World Congress of Public Health, mobilizing all those who work on this field, putting together different theories, policies and activities in the area of Collective Heath, strengthening and consolidating its practices and knowledge. Saúde & Sociedade also has been consolidated as an editorial space in the field of Public Health in 2006. The inclusion in the Sociological Abstracts Index, putting the publication in a new classification by Capes (Ministry of Education Coordination of Graduate Education)-Qualis C International-is the result of joint efforts of the Publish Committee, Advisory Editors, consultants and of the partnership established with the Ministry of Health of Brazil for the funding of thematic issues of the journal. For this, this last issue closes up the year with a 'gold key'. It brings a series of discussion and reflection based on results of investigations, articulated to issues treated in former issues: the processes of social inclusion/exclusion and their repercussions on health in rural and urban areas; the issue of solidarity in social relations; the discussion on youth within society; an analysis of social control in the Unified Health System of Brazil; and a manuscript on the construction of public policies and of health care for the elderly. Besides the report of an experience on health care for chronic diseases in Primary Health Care, the articles offer to the readers a qualified reflection with contribution to the construction of a critical thought in the Public Health area.