Promoção da saúde: percepção de agentes comunitários de saúde sobre estilo de vida saudável.

Abstract

Healthy lifestyle involves controlling behaviors that affect health and organizing daily activities to promote personal well-being. This goes beyond preventing disease and includes practices that improve quality of life over time. These practices include habits such as a balanced diet, stress management, regular exercise, not smoking, and preventive health care. Therefore, taking responsibility for these behaviors is essential to prevent chronic noncommunicable diseases and reduce mortality associated with them. Within this context, the nurse plays an essential role as a trainer for CHWs, providing guidance and leadership in continuing education activities. The aim of this study is to investigate the perception of Community Health Agents (CHWs) regarding healthy lifestyle and their ability to promote healthy habits within the community. This is a qualitative exploratory research study carried out in the city of Cuité-PB, in the local Basic Health Units from August to September 2024. The study was carried out in Primary Health Care, with Community Health Agents (CHAs), whose sample comprised 16 of these professionals who, voluntarily and after consent, were willing to contribute to this research. Data collection was carried out through an interview using a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were transcribed and submitted to lexographic textual analysis using the IRAMUTEQ software and later submitted to Bardin Content Analysis. Data analysis resulted in 6 interrelated classes and three categories. This research highlighted the importance of CHAs in promoting healthy habits and preventing diseases, highlighting both their potential and challenges, such as population resistance and the lack of ongoing training for professionals. The study serves as a basis for future research that can more deeply assess the level of knowledge and effectiveness of the CHAs' performance, contributing to the improvement of their training. In addition, the results are essential for the development of ongoing training strategies, aiming to improve the quality of care and health promotion in communities. 9 Investment in research and training programs is essential to ensure more effective performance by these professionals.