Supervision of Community Health Agents in the Family Health Strategy: the perspective of nurses

• Published in: Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P Vol. 48; no. 5; pp. 899 - 906
• Main Authors: Silva, Juliana Sterci da, Fortuna, Cinira Magal, Pereira, Maria José Bistafa, Matumoto, Silvia, Santana, Fabiana Ribeiro, Marciano, Franciele Maia, Silva, Jael Bernardes, Ferreira, Marianna, Mishima, Silvana Martins
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem 01-10-2014; SciELO
• Subjects: Adult; Agentes Comunitarios de Salud; Atención Primaria de Salud; Community Health Workers; Estrategia de Salud Familiar; Family Health; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; NURSING; Nursing, Supervisory; Supervisión de Enfermeira; Young Adult; Estratégia Saúde da Família; Agentes Comunitários de Saúde; Atención Primaria de Salud; Family Health Strategy; Community Health Workers; Estrategia de Salud Familiar; Agentes Comunitarios de Salud; Primary Health Care; Supervisão de Enfermagem; Atenção Primária à Saúde; Nursing Supervisory; Supervisión de Enfermeira
• ISSN: 0080-6234; 1980-220X; 0080-6234
• DOI: 10.1590/S0080-6234201400005000017

Analyzing the conceptions of supervision of nurses in the Family Health Strategy (ESF - Estratégia Saúde da Família) in relation to community health workers (ACS - Agente Comunitário de Saúde), taking for reference the work process and the power relations.
A qualitative study, in which 18 interviews were carried out with nurses from the ESF in the countryside of the state of Goiás. Following transcription, the data were subjected to thematic content analysis and the following categories were identified: Supervision with that sees it all and Supervision is participating and working together.
Among the findings, it is clear the character of control and monitoring that is carried out primarily through printed instruments and home visits, which constitute vertical and impositive relations, and suffer influence of the local health management. Another finding is the supervision as acting together and with the educational perspective.
The supervision carried out does not provide the changes intended by the ESF.