The emergence of the concept of participation in public health

Abstract

The objective of this study is to identify the emergence of notions of health participation, in the public health movement in Brazil. Inspired by Foucault's genealogy, this study hopes to identify specific continuities and find strengths and occurrences within the movement, rather than study the origins and definitions of participation. These will reveal disperse, irregular and strategically planned movements which seek to particimake participation part of policy and create consensus. A search was carried out to identify government and academic documents with the terms "community participation," "popular participation," "social participation," and "political participation." The analysis allows us to describe the linear development of the concept of participation in three important moments. First, the strengthening of the relationship between PAHO and Latin American governments in the ‘60s, which expanded community participation along with health care coverage. Second is the articulation between different social actors, particularly between health professionals and technicians, and social movements in the ‘70s, which influenced the design of social and political participation. The third moment coincides with the creation of the Universal Health System (SUS), which seeks to create consensus in social participation.

These are not characterized are three separate moments, nor are they lineal or without diversions, but they form part of the process of appropriation and reconstruction of the concept of participation in public health.