Intersectorality in the 'Health in Schools' Program: an evaluation of the political-management process and working practices

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva Vol. 22; no. 6; pp. 1781 - 1790
• Main Authors: Sousa, Marta Caires de, Esperidião, Monique Azevedo, Medina, Maria Guadalupe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese; Spanish
• Published: Brazil Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva - ABRASCO 01.06.2017
• Subjects: Brazil; Cooperative Behavior; Humans; Politics; Program Development; School Health Services - organization & administration; Schools; Estados Unidos
• ISSN: 1413-8123; 1678-4561; 1678-4561
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232017226.24262016

This study analyzed inter-sectoral activities between the health and education sectors in implementing the Health in Schools program in a city within a metropolitan region in northeast Brazil. Analysis of the political-management process looked at the following dimensions: professional practices and subject understanding of intersectorality. The results show that subjects define intersectorality as partnership and joint efforts. Regarding decision making and resource mobilization, during program implementation we noticed that healthcare leads, and education tends to play a more peripheral role. Health activities in the schools use a biomedical approach and primarily consist of lectures. We believe that the program strengthened the relationship between these two sectors. However, intersectoral coordination in the political-management process and practices show weaknesses and limitations.