Difficulties in early detection of respiratory symptomatic patients in primary health care: The contribution of community health workers

Abstract

Objective: To identify and understand the difficulties in early detection of tuberculosis in primary health care, while recognizing the contribution of community health workers in prior screening of patients in vulnerable regions. Method: integrative review with scientific articles published in Portuguese and English, in full, which address the problem of underreporting and weaknesses of primary care and family health in terms of strengthening the capture of patients contacting tuberculosis cases in the area of health responsibility. We selected 21 articles for sampling in the following databases: LILACS, BVS-Enfer Nursing, PUBMED and Scielo, from which only 6 articles were selected, whose theme focuses on three main axes: tuberculosis in primary health care; weaknesses of the territory; the contribution of community health workers in the early screening of contacts and respiratory symptoms. Results: based on the sample and analysis of the proposed content, it was observed that Community Health Agents have great relevance in the active search for patients with respiratory symptoms and transmission of knowledge and information to the population, considering that they also have the role of educator of the population and are characterized as the direct link between the health team and the community. Conclusion: there is a great need for training and strengthening the practice of continuing education with this group of professionals, since their level of knowledge reflects in the quality of home care and in the resoluteness of the search for respiratory symptomatic patients.