THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY OUTREACH ACTIONS IN THE EDUCATIONAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AGENTS FROM NOVA FRIBURGO – RIO DE JANEIRO – BRASIL

Abstract

This study aims to characterizes the socio-professional profile of the Community Health Agents (CHA) from Nova Friburgo – RJ – Brazil, analyzing it through the regulations and literature on the subject to reveal potentials and challenges of their professional practice. It is a cross-sectional study resulted from the outreach project Health Education through Dialogue Practice with the CHA: the Construction of Professional Identity. Sociodemographic and professional performance data were collected through structured questionnaires. Most CHA were female (82.3%), between 20 and 63 years old. 45.9% had worked for more than 5 years in the profession. Although 70.6% had received prior training, 94.1% said they need more learning to practice. Potentials and difficulties in the work of these CHA are also identified in the literature. The professional identity of this category is under permanent construction and requires continuing education strategies that enable to articulate the work with the assumptions of Primary Health Care.