The praxis of matrix support: Interdisciplinary work in primary health care

Abstract

Family health support centers have been implemented in Brazil in order to expand interdisciplinary work in primary care by hiring specialized professionals. The objective of this article is to detail the functioning of these centers and to analyze how matrix support methodology has been incorporated into primary care centers in the city of São Paulo. Between 2016 and 2017 a survey was carried out with 609 professionals, and participant observation and semi-structured interviews with strategic actors were conducted. Dialectical hermeneutics fusing quantitative and qualitative data was employed for data interpretation and analysis. The prospect of building matrix support is quite innovative. Despite the verticalization of power that obstructs the autonomy of workers in building a model of clinic co-management, there are also instances of construction and resistance.

Keywords

• Public Health Policies
• Primary Health Care
• Interdisciplinary Team in Healthcare
• Brazil