FUNÇÕES DOS EDUCADORES SANITÁRIOS DE SÃO PAULO

Abstract

The purpose of this preliminary study was to obtain general information concerning the responsabilities and functions of the "educadores sanitários" employed in the main health or related agencies in the State of São Paulo. The information upon which the study was based was obtained through interviews with the heads of health education programs in a number of agencies. The study shows that the purpose of health education programs and the functions of the health educators are typical of São Paulo, as well as the course for the training of health educators of the School of Public Health of the University of São Paulo. They seem to be quite different from the current purpose and functions in the various countries in which health education is an integral part of public health programs. In São Paulo, the health educator seems to the "multipurpose" worker, performing activities which are not strictly those attributed to the public health nurse, the social worker or the health educator as described by the World Health Organization