Educação em saúde : realidade, reflexões e intervenções em escolas da zona rural em municípios do Rio Grande do Sul (RS).

Abstract

Introduction: Health education is a process that assists in the construction of health knowledge, contributing to the improvement of individuals' autonomy, targeting their care according to their specificities. In this sense, when approached in rural areas, it positively impacts the community, as it is a space considered to lack information, health education actions influence health promotion and disease prevention in this environment. General objective of the thesis: To understand and analyze health education strategies and actions in schools in rural areas of municipalities in RS, as well as to propose and carry out health educational interventions. Abstract of manuscript 1: Manuscript 1 aimed to analyze health education strategies and actions in rural schools in RS, reflecting on the possible impacts on the school community. This is a descriptive, exploratory, analytical study with a qualitative approach, involving students, parents/guardians, teachers, health professionals, the Municipal Health Secretary (SMS) and the Municipal Education Secretary (SME) of four rural municipalities. After data collection, the data were analyzed and divided into two thematic categories, entitled: Health education strategies and actions: analysis based on the experiences of rural schools and “...They talk about a lot of important things that we need for life…”: impacts of health education to guarantee citizenship. Thus, the results indicate that health education actions and strategies are infrequent, punctual and occasional, but they are considered important and, when carried out, they require simple, clear and easy-to-understand language. It is considered that the actions are related to the Health in School Program and depend on the joint work of health professionals, teachers and managers to mobilize the school collective. There are also health care practices through curricular subjects; however, it was found that teachers address health issues in other spaces without recognizing them as such. The health education approach influences the care behaviors of students and their families, with students acting as multipliers of knowledge. In addition, these actions encourage students to take care of themselves and exercise their citizenship. It is concluded that health education actions and strategies carried out in rural schools impact the community, highlighting health promotion, the influence on the exercise of citizenship, and the multiplication of information.