The territorialization as a tool for healthcare education based on an experience of popular extension

Abstract

This text reports the importance of territorialization as a tool for healthcare education based on an experience of popular extension conducted by Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB). A qualitative study on territorialization was designed based on systematic experiences by Oscar Jara. The theoretical and methodological approaches of Popular Health Education was used in
Popular Education in Occupational Health Program (PEPST) where undergraduate students, professors and primary health care workers were subjected to territorialization activity in Grotão community located in João Pessoa, State of Paraíba, Brazil. The undergraduate students were divided into groups and activity of each groups were performed under the guidance of workers Primary Health Care. The reflective experiences gained were daily recorded in field. Simultaneously interviews were also conducted from former PEPST participants. The observations provided from the territorialization activity inferred that territorialization has a major impact on re-orientation of health care education and contributes to integration of education, health care service and community. Pre-planning strategy measures framed using territorialization provided better frameworks of social inequalities in a local community.