Social participation in the Family's Health Strategy: analysis of the health counselors' perceptions

This study aims to analyze the health counselors' perceptions with regard to the participation in Family's Health Strategy. This is a qualitative research, with the realization of interviews with the counselors representatives of the Family's Health Units. The results have evidenced that councils are noticed as a tool for the improvement of the assistance and also as a place for health promotion. It has become clear the existence of a community's lack of interest for the participative practices. Some factors contribute to the few engagement of the population, following the example of the healthcare debilities and the council's sterility perception in the resolution of community problems.

Social participation; Health councils; Primary Health Care; Family health; Qualitative research