Home visit: a place for the acquisition and modification of health practices

Abstract

The home visit made by the technical assistant of primary health care (ATAPS), corresponds to the main primary care activity developed in Costa Rica, whose main task is to provide information and recommendations on health education to users. Regarding the above, the objective of this research is to determine the knowledge and the modification in the lifestyles that people make after the ATAPS visit. The design of the study was qualitative, analytical and observational. For the data collection, in-depth interviews were applied to the users visited and a focus group was made with the ATAPS. For the analysis of the data, categories of analysis were established from the methodology of the grounded theory. It was identified that users report a greater acquisition of knowledge when addressing issues such as dengue, vaccination, hand washing, vaginal cytology and healthy eating and a significant predominance of the housewife in the participation of this activity, which in the end limits the transmissibility of the information to the rest of the members. With respect to the modification of practices, most people express changes in healthy lifestyles and greater facilities for access to health services. It is conclude that it is important to understand the home visit as a means of approximation between families and the health system, which favors access to health services, while providing an instrument that meets the needs.