Health promotion in the governmental agenda of the state of Bahia: politics or rhetoric?

ABSTRACT This study is aimed at analyzing the conditioning and determining factors in the incorporation of health promotion proposals into the governmental agenda of the healthcare industry of the state of Bahia, in the period from 2007 to 2014, recognizing the inception of studies that analyze the constitution process of government agendas for health promotion. The research was theoretically anchored to the Multiple Flow model, proposed by Kingdon, which highlights the influence of the active participants and problem flow, as well as of alternatives and political streams in establishing government agenda. In addition, we were supported by Mario Testa's theory to recognize the resources of the power of the participants. A single case study was conducted, with research on secondary sources and interviews with key informants. In conclusion, the constitution of the health promotion agenda of the state of Bahia was based more on a symbolic representation than on a policy to be pursued. We recognize that the paths that lead to the choices of health promotion alternatives do not correspond to concrete problems, and it is essentially based on the political flow in which the situation was involved.