The impact of environmental health education to the users of Primary Health Care: a literature review

Abstract

Health promotion has been a fundamental pillar to the consolidation of fairer health systems that are more involved and promote greater resolutions. In the context of Brazil, Primary Health Care represents the main ordering strategy of the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) [Unified Health System], and is responsible for continuous and comprehensive care that meets the community’s needs. Within this context, Health Education comes as a vital tool capable of strengthening the bond between professionals and patients. It also enhances individual and collective autonomy in self care. This dissertation - based on scientific evidence put under a critical perspective – comes from the need to deepen comprehension on the role of Health Education in the context of Primary Health Care. When reflecting on the impacts of these practices in the everyday lives of SUS’s patients, the focus is to contribute to the development of tasks performed by the health care teams. Furthermore, there is the need to identify the primary obstacles faced in its implementation.  The work in question is a literature review. Research was made in databases, and the most recurrent were: Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Virtual Health Library (VHL) and Google Scholar. Health Education is an important tool to Primary Health Care teams when it comes to the propagation of health related information. It is of great importance to establish that the health-illness process is of mutual responsibility of both health care professionals and patients. Teaching forms of prevention and ways to avoid the worsening of illnesses is equivalent to providing autonomy in self care. A person who detains knowledge will certainly get sick less often and, when sick, have a better adherence to treatments.