THE ROLE OF THE NURSE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to (i) characterize the profile of nurses working in the Family Health Strategy (FHS); (ii) investigate their actions in a support program for women’s health care (WHC); and (iii) measure the frequency of women’s health care actions performed in the FHS. Material and Methods: The data were obtained through surveys applied to nurses (n=20) working in Primary Health Care Units in a Sanitary District. The surveys were performed between November 2013 and March 2014. This study utilized a semi-structured interview whose data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 – statistical software. Results: The sample was composed entirely of female nurses, 65% of which had been working in the Family Health Strategy for over 10 years. The results showed that nursing activities were most frequently performed during the prenatal and postnatal periods. Forty percent of the interviewees reported that only a few or no activities were produced during the climacteric period. The most common actions performed by nurses were educational activities. Conclusion: Professionals who have worked for a long period of time in Primary Care Units have developed educational activities with all age groups. Furthermore, there was a higher frequency of actions during the gestational-puerperal period than in the climacteric period. DESCRIPTORS Nursing. Primary Health Care. Women's Health.