ABSTRACT
Objective
to discuss the term family in the field of Brazilian health through: 1) the historical review of the concept and family arrangement in Brazil; 2) the recapitulation and problematization of the term in Brazilian health; 3) the discussion in the Brazilian National Primary Care Policy.
Method
this is a theoretical-reflective study.
Results
the text was divided into: “Historical rescue of family transformations in Brazil”, “First Basic Health Unit: the family” and “Brazilian National Primary Care Policy: which family are we talking about?”, which helped in the argument about the problem of (non)definition of family. Amidst the concern about allocating family-oriented care, it becomes necessary to rethink this polysemic term, proposing the denaturalization of crystallized definitions that can emerge in professionals’ work, which can produce actions based on (pre-)concepts and negligence to non-hegemonic families.
Final considerations and implications for practice
it is necessary to discuss which conception of family is considered in the field of health and its repercussions, especially in Primary Health Care and in health policies, as in the Brazilian National Primary Care Policy, to minimize possible difficulties that may arise in professionals’ actions when faced with the plurality of family realities.
Keywords:
Primary Health Care; Family; Health Policy; Family Health; Health