QUALIFICATION OF HEALTH COUSELORS IN THE UNIFIED HEALTH SYSTEM

THE EXTENSION STRENGTHENING SOCIAL CONTROL

Abstract

Introduction: The training of health council members is an essential strategy for strengthening social control within Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS). In this context, health education initiatives can enhance qualified public participation in health surveillance. Objective: To map the sociodemographic profile of participants in the extension project “Training Course for Health Surveillance Council Members in the SUS”, developed by the Department of Nursing of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil and to analyze their perceptions of the course. Method: A cross-sectional study that produced quantitative and qualitative data, conducted with 90 participants from the 2023 or 2024 editions of the course, offered in a Distance Education modality with nationwide coverage. Data collection was carried out using a form, sent via Google Forms, with sociodemographic information and information about the perception of the training experience. Results: Participants reported high levels of satisfaction, highlighting the adequacy of the didactic material produced by the project team and the effectiveness of the teaching methodologies employed. Conclusion: Their narratives emphasized the relevance of the course as a tool for transforming local realities and strengthening social control within the field of health surveillance.