ABSTRACT
El término «salud comunitaria» es ampliamente utilizado en nuestro medio, con una recuperación progresiva de su interés en los últimos 10 años. Consideramos que, aunque muy difundido, se trata de un término impreciso, por lo que percibimos la necesidad y la pertinencia de una mejor definición operativa. Se realizó una revisión de la literatura especializada, que fue contrastada con la experiencia y el conocimiento de los autores, así como con las perspectivas sobre el tema recogidas en un trabajo de campo con entrevistas realizadas a personas de reconocida relación con la cuestión. Como resultado se proponen algunas aclaraciones terminológicas que puedan facilitar una adecuada definición operativa; se describen las principales influencias teóricas en su formación; se realiza una propuesta de niveles de acción comunitaria que pueden desarrollarse desde atención primaria y salud pública; finalmente, se señalan algunos elementos fundamentales que consideramos que toda acción para mejorar la salud comunitaria debería contemplar
"Community health" is a widely used term in our context. Although interest in the concept has gradually increased over the past decade, we believe the term is still vague. Therefore, we think a better working definition is required. We conducted a review of the specialized literature on the topic. This was later contrasted with the professional backgrounds of the authors, as well as with the results of field work consisting of interviews with individuals with recognized experience and intellectual authority in the area. As a result, we intend to clarify some core terms to achieve a better working definition of community health; we describe the main theoretical influences on the formation of the term; we propose some levels of community action that could be developed through the primary health care and public health services; and finally, we identify some core aspects that should be taken into account in every action for improving community health
Subject(s)
Humans , Community Health Services , Community Medicine , Community Participation , Terminology as Topic , Health Promotion , 50207 , Health EducationABSTRACT
"Community health" is a widely used term in our context. Although interest in the concept has gradually increased over the past decade, we believe the term is still vague. Therefore, we think a better working definition is required. We conducted a review of the specialized literature on the topic. This was later contrasted with the professional backgrounds of the authors, as well as with the results of field work consisting of interviews with individuals with recognized experience and intellectual authority in the area. As a result, we intend to clarify some core terms to achieve a better working definition of community health; we describe the main theoretical influences on the formation of the term; we propose some levels of community action that could be developed through the primary health care and public health services; and finally, we identify some core aspects that should be taken into account in every action for improving community health.
