To study the impact of the use of a participant caring process on the individual and collective health care applied to a group of pregnant. The study was carried out through health care practices with ten pregnant individuals from September to December, 2002. Group activities were developed in six health workshops followed by a home visit to each participant. Using qualitative approach, data were collected through participant observations and interviews during the workshops and home visits, as designed in the Ecological and Holistic Care Reference. The effects of the participant health care were identified trough a process of analysis, and synthesis in the following dimensions: (a) the pregnant woman with herself; (b) the pregnant woman with her baby and family members; (c) the pregnant woman and family members with the community. The search for knowledge based on the participant approach influenced the enlargement of the concept of health and citizenship of pregnant women and their environment. The use of new paradigm approaches can contribute to promoting health as well as to subsidizing interdisciplinary studies.
Collective health; Participant care; Individual and collective health; Integral health; Maternal healt