Public health educational projects in Brazil: revealing the influence of contexts – social, political and of the world of work – over time

Abstract

This article analyzes the breadth of experiences of educational projects in Public Health/Collective Health in Brazil, with an emphasis on contextual elements, so  as to point out characteristics and key questions  present in the Brazilian experience of this mode of  education. The work and education of sanitarians are  traced historically, and their contradictions, alignments and perspectives identified. This will be  discussed over six different historical periods starting  in 1889, on the basis of the following analytical  categories: a) socio-political conjunction; b)  sanitarians practice; c) educational projects; and d)  institutionalization and organization of public health.  An analytical table is presented and discussed. Based  on it, evidence of the mutual influence over time of  socio-health contexts, educational projects and  sanitarians world of work is pointed out. The  challenge is to provide a counter-hegemonic  education vis-à-vis the capitalist model, and that  Public Health/Collective Health graduates manage to  position themselves and work within this perspective.  Making adaptations to the educational project seems  valid. However, it may not be enough to alter  structural tensions, since the political and economic  setting has historically determined ‘for what’, ‘where’,  ‘how’ and ‘for whom’ sanitarians work.