SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE AGENTS COMMUNITY HEALTH AND PERCEPTION OF ON WORKING IN A PRIMARY CARE SERVICE, THE SOUTH OF BRAZIL

Introduction and purpose: the Program of Community Health Agents (PACS) and the Family Health Program (PSF) were emphasized by the ministry as priority strategies for strengthening primary care in municipal health systems.The aim of this study is to identify the sociodemographic profile and perceptions of community health service. Methodology: This is a descriptive study with a quantitative and qualitative nature, held in 2013 in Porto Alegre / RS . Data collection was conducted through questionnaires and interviews. Results and conclusions: the sociodemographic profile of ACS is represented mostly by females and 89% aged between 40 to 49 years, with about 34 % . With regard to the most listed religious beliefs were Catholic ( 51 % ) , and spiritualist ( 20 % ) . With respect to the years of study , the majority of respondents represented 46% reported having between 12 and 16 years of studies . 56 % have between six months to one year of service and 37% of ACS had not yet realized the introductory course in family health . In the ACS study in the profession see a way of entering the labor market and recognize the importance they have in the APS , particularly for establishing a relationship and knowing where families live . Home visits related programs were the most common activities . Bring the need to discuss more about mental health , in order to qualify the work with families that have demands on mental health.