Trabalho, Educação e Saúde - TES (Work, Education and Health) is an open access scientific journal, edited by the Joaquim Venâncio Polytechnic School of Health, from Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.
Trabalho, Educação e Saúde (TES) publishes original contributions on the fields of education and health, discussing them from the perspective of contemporary work organization, from a critical and interdisciplinary perspective. To submit a text, please consult the Editorial Policy and the Instructions to Authors.
Article
The aim was to identify professional characteristics and working conditions associated with food and nutritional surveillance in primary health care centers in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. It was an online cross-sectional study, in 2021, with a random sample of 250 centers. A professional from each center completed an electronic questionnaire. These health workers were characterized by their socio-demographic characteristics, as well as the territorial aspects of the centers, work processes and their food and nutritional surveillance actions. To analyze the associations between the surveillance and these characteristics, it was performed a Poisson regression with robust covariance. The presence of food and nutrition surveillance was reported in 57.6% of the centers and showed an association with younger age groups among workers, as well as with actions on problem prioritization and actions on promotion of adequate and healthy eating at individual-level. These findings reveal weaknesses in the operationalization and recognition of food and nutrition surveillance within primary health care, where professional characteristics and working conditions must be related to the effectiveness of the surveillance. The data highlights the need for governance spaces where such aspects are considered in the strategies for evaluating and enhancing food and nutrition surveillance at local-regional levels.
Article
Primary Health Care is essential for the initial access to mental health needs, integrating with the Psychosocial Care Network. This qualitative study aimed to explore the perceptions of people with mental healthcare needs about the care they receive in Primary Health Care units, seeking to understand the challenges, expectations, and recommendations. Conducted between January and September 2021 in six Family Health Units in a municipality in São Paulo, Brazil, it involved semi-structured interviews with 22 users, analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s Thematic Analysis. The results indicated that, although the services are seen as welcoming, there are reports of deficiencies in the training of professionals to deal with mental health demands. Participants emphasized the need for greater empathy, training, and availability of professionals, as well as the importance of active listening practices and respect for users’ autonomy. Improvements in care were proposed, such as the expansion of multidisciplinary teams, the creation of therapeutic groups and greater integration between mental health and Primary Health Care. The study reinforces the role of Primary Health Care as a strategic space for mental health care, pointing to strategies for strengthening the Psychosocial Care Network.
Ensaio
Advanced Nursing Practices have historically been linked to the expansion of nurses’ scope of practice as a response to ensuring access to healthcare. In Brazil, debates on these practices have been marked by limited consensus within academia, professional associations, as well as international and governmental bodies. This essay aims to reflect on the socio-historical and ethical-political elements involved in expanding nurses’ scope of practice in the Brazilian context. Several factors contribute to an expanded practice in the country, including legislation; however, certain aspects restrict nurses’ full professional performance. Furthermore, education aligned with the needs of the Unified Health System has been compromised, particularly following intense privatization, in addition to the inequities faced by healthcare workers. The importance of nursing for the health system is emphasized, along with the need to construct pathways for education and professional practice that align with public policies. It is argued that proposals for Advanced Nursing Practices must consider health needs, the work processes of multiprofessional teams, the design of public policies, as well as aspects related to the regulation of education, professional practice, and working conditions. These pathways require participatory spaces and consensus-building mediated by the State.