Health from an integrated perspective: Experience in ethnic group communities of the operational area VIII, province of Salta, Argentina

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: From September 2020 to February 2021, a health program was implemented in the operational area VIII of the province of Salta for the Wichí, Chorote, Toba and Chulupí ethnic group communities. Components of Primary Care, Health Information Systems and Community Epidemiology were taken as a conceptual framework to develop the experience. METHODS: A mobile and interdisciplinary team was formed, that carried out assistance, promotion and prevention actions from an individual, family and community perspective. The systematization of information led to redefining the criteria for selecting the communities to be visited. RESULTS: A total of 124 visits were made to 36 communities, where 2101 people received health care. In February, 47% of the pregnant women evaluated belonged to the population at risk. Monitoring was also performed on 61% of the cohort of infants at risk due to underweight. Four training sessions were held for healthcare workers, with a participation rate of more than 70% of the people invited to attend. DISCUSSION: The presence of the local system in the communities is a relevant action of Public Health. The visits provided an approach to the communities, and the use of systematized information increased accessibility to the system. The joint work and the training of healthcare workers, most of them belonging to the communities, were a first step towards intercultural health.