Characterizing health education practices undertaken by nurses in a middle west city of the State of Minas Gerais

Abstract

This study aims to characterize health education practices undertaken by nurses in a Middle West municipal district of 12,292 inhabitants in the State of Minas Gerais. The research was performed filling up forms in semi-structured interviews, group activities, observation and characterization of services performed by four nurses in primary health units as well as the city's primary health care coordinator. The peoples'answers were collected and analyzed, according to a qualitative approach. The research pointed out the main obstacles to the achievement of the educational activities as the lack of professionals' and managers' technical and-political pedagogy regarding public health as well as the shortage of pedagogical resources to back up educative measures. Such obstacles, along with the methodology used, are jeopardizing the fulfillment of nursing practice and health education in the referred municipal district