Intersectoral actions between health and education: notes on the Health at School Program

Abstract

Objective:  to understand the intersectoral actions between health and education and the Health at School Program context in three municipalities in different health regions in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Method:  this is a holistic-qualitative multiple case study, based on Comprehensive Sociology of Everyday Life, with 91 participants, being 38 health professionals and 53 education professionals. Open-ended individual interview and records in operational field notes of the research development were used. Data were collected in 2016 and thematic content analysis was used, obeying the analytical technique of cross-case analysis, in line with the methodological framework of the holistic multiple case study.

Results:  low involvement between the health and education sectors is pointed out, leading to the practice of fragmented, punctual and limited actions and implying low improvement in health conditions.

Conclusions:  to modify this context, the involvement of health and education professionals is essential, in addition to the schoolchildren, parents, community and managers themselves. The union of these actors is necessary for the transformation of students’ health conditions. However, this will only be achieved if the actions developed are planned and carried out involving these actors and the school community.

Keywords: intersectoral collaboration; health; education; school health; health promotion