PARTICIPATORY MAPPING IN TERRITORIAL PLANNING OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF NATAL-RN
Primary care. Participatory mapping. Territorial planning. Natal/RN.
This study aims to understand the contributions of participatory mapping to the territorial planning of Primary Health Care (PHC) in the city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. This level of the Unified Health System (SUS) is planned in a centralized manner, with significant participation of municipal managers in decision-making and low inclusion of the community and health team professionals in this process. In view of this, it is important to use tools to promote more participatory territorial planning. Given this context, participatory mapping emerges as a methodological instrument that favors greater involvement of social actors. We highlight the contributions of this type of mapping to the territorial planning of PHC in the city of Natal, with a focus on its incorporation in the updating of the territorialization of basic units and in actions aimed at promoting local health. The research adopts a qualitative and quantitative approach and methodological procedures of an action research, using bibliographic and documentary survey techniques and field research that will be constituted by participatory mapping workshops with the Family Health Teams (eSF) of 21 Family Health Units (USF) of the municipality. The text presents the theoretical and methodological construction of the research and the territorial organization of the health network of the municipality of Natal, with a focus on primary care.