Being a community health agent: motivation and meaning

motivação e significado

Abstract

This study aims at characterizing the profile of the Community Health Agent (in Portuguese ACS) working in Health Centers at the municipality of Marilia-SP. It intends also to analyze the motivations and meanings of being an ACS. The quantitative data were studied descriptively whereas the qualitative results were summarized by content analysis. ACSs were predominantly of the female sex and were in average 32. 5 years old. Most of them had finished high school and had been working as Community Health Agents for an average 27 month. Unemployment, the search for a different work area and the desire to help others were pointed out as reasons for becoming an ACS. For them being an ACS means to develop links with the community, to be able to talk, to help, to guide and to encourage their autonomy as well as to offer assistance to the community. In conclusion, it is necessary to better define and improve the ACS's responsibilities.