MATRIX OF PRIORITIES FOR THE HEALTH AT SCHOOL PROGRAM: A PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT PROCESS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the participatory management process in the development of a prioritization instrument for the School Health Program.

METHOD: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional and evaluative study, focused on improvements in the management of the School Health Program. An instrument was developed to prioritize managerial aspects, based on criteria of magnitude, priority and potential for participation. A participatory methodology was used, developed through consensus workshops with local managers, in a municipality in the Midwest of Brazil, between July 2021 and June 2023. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: Elaboration of a matrix of priorities, considering the potential participation of the actors involved. The areas led by the health sector showed the greatest potential for participation, including priorities such as vaccination, obesity prevention, articulation of actions, coping with vulnerabilities, longitudinal care, local diagnosis, operational capacity of health units, and information management. In turn, components of the educational context, such as the local diagnosis and the operational capacity of the schools, showed less potential for participation.

CONCLUSIONS: The health sector demonstrated greater potential for participation compared to the educational sector. The process stimulated a more effective integration among local managers to classify emerging demands and define managerial priorities. The group's engagement in the collective construction of the prioritization instrument suggests the need to include participatory strategies that enable the exchange of experiences and good intersectoral practices, improving monitoring and evaluation in key areas. This process allows for horizontality, promotes collaborative work in response to territorial vulnerabilities, strengthens the operational capacity of institutions and information management. It also contributes to longitudinal care and a more accurate local diagnosis, which can increase the potential for participation of all sectors involved, an essential factor for health promotion in this context.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2024.038-013