Abstract

TAVARES, Fátima; CAROSO, Carlos  and  SANTANA, Carolina. Mediated care in a public program for family health in Itaparica, Brazil. Etnográfica [online]. 2015, vol.19, n.3, pp.489-513. ISSN 0873-6561.

Based on the ethnography of daily life of health professionals who work in the “Family Health Program” (public system of basic health care) in the city of Itaparica, this article addresses therapeutic approaches to diversity departing from dualistic assumptions as traditional/modern or official/alternative. In this attempt, some of the daily dilemmas in the practice of health professionals are examined, taking into account the therapeutic diversity that they have to deal with. It is suggested that the conflicts that mediate the asymmetry in the coexistence of different therapeutic practices in this system are indicative of broader disagreements, which may be identified on the “civilizing” intentions of transformation of the lifeways of the populations assisted by public health care programs.

Keywords : Family Health Program; anthropology of health; therapeutic diversity; community therapies; religions; Brazil.

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