Counseling on healthy ways of life in Primary Health Care

Abstract

Introduction: Counseling is process guidance of health professionals that enables the construction of healthy lifestyles and health promotion. Aim: To check the performance of primary healthcare professionals on counseling healthy ways of living, according to the perception of users, and the factors associated with this practice. Method: A sectional study was conducted with users of the Basic Health Unit of Belo Horizonte, MG. Food consumption was assessed with the use of a food-frequency questionnaire. Sociodemographic data, morbidity, medication use, physical activity, and anthropometric measurements were collected, as were reported receipt of counseling about healthy ways of living (healthy eating and physical activity). Aspects associated with receiving counseling were identified by Poisson regression. Results and Discussion: There was an insufficient frequency of receiving counseling (40.8%), according to users (n=417). Individuals with hypertension (PR:1.30; 95%CI: 1.03; 1.66) or hypercholesterolemia (PR:1.62; 95%CI: 1.28; 2.05), presenting adequate intake of processed spices (PR:1.40; 95%CI: 1.11; 1.78) and participating in the Academia da Saúde Program (PR:1.85; 95%CI: 1.45; 2.36) were more counseled. Conclusion: Counseling on healthy ways of living needs to be revised in order to promote equity and integrality of health care, given the role and the potential of primary health care.

Keywords

• counseling. health profile. primary health care. health personnel. health promotion.