Diagnosis of health care actions: a territorial analysis from the user’s perspective

ABSTRACT Objective: to describe the development of community health actions from the user’s perspective. Methods: a descriptive study carried out in a small city in the south of Brazil, in 2017, with 639 literate residents of both genders. The sample was calculated in a weighted system by neighborhoods, streets and age group, and data were collected by 25 community health workers, distributed into 6 Basic Health Units (UBS). The research instrument included questions about the existence and the awareness of the user about community health education activities. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22.0. Results: 76.3% of the participants identified frequent community health actions; of these, 67.3% had a nurse present and 70%, a community health workers. 63.6% of the participants thought these actions stimulate the population to reflect on their health and illness, 62.5% self-care, 66% health protection measures and 56.4%, believed that these actions influence behavioral changes. Conclusion: from the perspective of the user, the activities developed fulfilled their expectations about community actions related to health promotion; the results also show that the participants are aware of the actions developed in the city and their significant effectiveness for habits changes. However, the data demonstrate centralized activities that require a re-signification of practices through permanent education on health promotion.