The aim of this study was to reflect on Freire's Education Model in a health education environment in order to promote its theoretical development. An action research was developed, whose object was the Growth and Development Monitoring Program of children in Medellin, Colombia. The study involved the use of participant observation in the meetings of this program, and analysis of the information focusing on a continuous reflective process. Educators-researchers analyzed their own pedagogical practices, aiming to transform health education into a more dialogic and productive practice. Findings showed difficulties to change traditional educational practices in the scope of health services, but from a praxis perspective, reflection was found to be an important process in transforming practice. The emergence of the student as a subject with specific experiences and conditions helped the educators-researches to understand the meaning of a human-based education. The need to consider caregivers as central subjects and child rearing as a central topic in health programs was highlighted.
Health education; Child rearing; Growth and development