Popular Health Education: Meaning of Experience in Training Community Health Workers

Abstract

This study brings results from a qualitative research aiming to analyze the meaning of the training experience of Community Health Workers (ACSs, in Portuguese) in the Qualification Program in Popular Education in Health (EdPopSUS), one of the priority strategies of the Operative Plan of the National Policy of Popular Education for the Unified Health System, in Brazil. Data production occurred between 2018-2019 and included documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews with the ACSs and the health and EdPopSUS managers. The textual material produced was interpreted by content analysis, in light of the Popular Education theoretical framework. The results showed that EdPopSUS encouraged the ACSs' reflection, dialogue, and affection, enhancing their creativity and autonomy in an educational space of self-knowledge and interaction with their experienced world. ACSs' personal and professional experiences were valued, improving their communication with the team, the community, and the families, their listening skills, and their ability to conduct collective educational activities. The field trips and the conversation rounds were highlighted as potentialities of this training. Challenges were identified in implementing the principles of Popular Education in Primary Health Care. The experience analyzed strengthened ACSs' role as agents of change and popular educators. In this sense, Popular Education in Health was reinforced as a pedagogical-social practice, strengthening people, movements, teams, care practices, and the health system. The educational processes based on Popular Education are recommended for the permanent education of health teams.