Symbolic capital of the work of the female health visitors of the Public Health Service Foundation in the State of Alagoas, Brazil

Abstract This study of a historical nature analyzes the work of health visitors of the Public Health Service Foundation in Alagoas between 1960 and 1990 and the symbolic capital attributed to them. Documental and oral sources were used, the latter produced in interviews conducted using thematic oral history, given by the visitors, the physician and nurse. The information was analyzed based on the concepts of habitus, field, symbolic capital and distinction of Pierre Bourdieu, and revealed that health visitors were relevant in the healthcare of the communities where they worked with distinctive approaches to inculcate health practices through home visits and authority to reconfigure the hygienic habitus of families. This activity gave them symbolic power and capital legitimized by the community.【摘要】本项历史学导向的研究，分析了1960年至1990年间巴西阿拉戈斯州（Alagoas）公共卫生服务基金会（Public Health Service Foundation）健康访视员的履职工作，以及赋予该群体的符号资本（symbolic capital）。研究采用文档史料与口述史料两类数据源：其中口述史料通过专题口述史访谈获取，访谈对象包括健康访视员、医师与护士。本研究基于皮埃尔·布迪厄（Pierre Bourdieu）提出的惯习（habitus）、场域（field）、符号资本（symbolic capital）与区隔（distinction）理论，对所获信息展开分析。结果显示，健康访视员在其服务社区的医疗卫生保障工作中发挥了关键作用：他们凭借独具特色的工作路径，通过上门访视普及健康行为，并以自身权威重塑家庭的卫生惯习。此项履职活动赋予了他们符号权力（symbolic power），以及获得社区合法化认可的符号资本。