Approaching the Brazilian Health and Education Program:the perspective of managers and professionals in Federal District – DF.

Abstract

This study addresses health and education intersectoral actions adopted by Brazilian Health and Education Program (Programa Saúde na Escola, PSE). It aims at understanding the processes of intersectoral planning and decision making and of creating or adjusting practices, regarding the daily development of the program in Federal District (Distrito Federal, DF). To understand processes and contexts, 15 semi structured interviews were undertaken with managers and local professionals from both health and education sectors, at federal, district and local levels, in 2014. The technique of content analysis proposed by Bardin was used to process data. Four major themes were unfolded: general program perception and program´s components understanding; responsibilities and role in the program perceived; partners (from other level or sector) role and responsibilities perception; and participation in the program governance spaces. The study revealed that perception and program understanding varies according to sector and level (federal, district, local) of participant. Also, that PSE is generally well perceived by most interviewees, for it fosters intra sectoral dialog and interaction. However, challenges were presented as power asymmetry relations between sectors and levels. Aspects as consistent perception of the program´s relation to the organization´s mission and the importance of external partners and social networking were found to sustain program implementation. Finally, it stressed the importance of formally structured dialogical spaces as the Intersectoral Working Group (Grupo de Trabalho Intersetorial, GTI) to support cooperative planning and working between partners.