Competences in health promotion in the environmental education practices of community health agents

Competencias en la promoción de la salud en las prácticas de educación ambiental de los agentes de salud comunitários

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To recognize the domains of competencies in promoting health in the environmental education practices performed by community health agents.

Method:

A mixed study, which adopted the Developing Competencies and Professional Standards for Health Promotion Capacity Building in Europe (CompHP) as a theoretical framework, conducted in Crato, Ceará, with 16 community health agents, based on semi-structured interviews and data organization through the ALCESTE software.

Results:

The following domains of competencies in health promotion were evidenced: partnership, possibility of changes, and diagnosis. We recognize evidence signaling other domains, although with less statistical significance, such as: communication, planning and implementation, with a view to developing environmental education activities.

Final considerations:

There is a mobilization of a limited number of health promotion competences in the environmental education practices developed by community health agents, which requires the wholeness of these elements to implement health promotion practices and, thus, positive transformations on the environment and health.

Keywords:
Health promotion; Community health agents; Environmental health; Primary Health Care; Environment