Co-producing territorial health planning through rapid participatory appraisal: an experience in a Southern Brazilian capital
1
Family Health, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Toledo, Brazil
2
Family Health, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1860
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Rapid Participatory Appraisal (RPA) is a tool capable of identifying health vulnerabilities and strengths within a territory, with the additional advantage of being easily applicable due to its rapid implementation and low cost.¹˒² It is characterized by engaging both health teams and the community in reflection and problem identification, integrating theoretical knowledge with practical, and thereby fostering user participation in the construction of health services.³ This study aimed to report the experience of applying RPA as a planning tool in a area of a Family Health Team in a municipality in southern Brazil.
METHODS:
This is an experience report conducted over four months (March–July) in a Primary Health Care unit of Porto Alegre, serving approximately 18,000 users. The process involved secondary epidemiological and demographic data analysis, territorial observation, open interviews with key informants (health professionals, community representative, and school worker), and team-based reflective meetings. Data were systematized into thematic categories and structured into an intervention matrix with prioritized problems, objectives, and strategic actions.
RESULTS:
The RPA identified barriers to access, low social participation, absence of recreational infrastructure, and territorial violence affecting service organization. The intervention matrix supported the implementation of concrete actions, including smoking cessation and physical activity groups, reorganization of medical and nursing schedules, outreach care using a mobile clinic, and active engagement in the Municipal Health Conference. The process strengthened team–community bonds and improved territorial presence of the health service.
CONCLUSIONS:
RPA proved to be a feasible and low-cost participatory planning strategy in Primary Health Care, fostering co-responsibility and interprofessional collaboration. Despite challenges related to workload and contextual violence, the methodology contributed to contextualized decision-making and reinforced community-oriented care. However, its reliance on key informants may limit broader representativeness, highlighting the need for complementary participatory strategies.
Rapid Participatory Appraisal (RPA) is a tool capable of identifying health vulnerabilities and strengths within a territory, with the additional advantage of being easily applicable due to its rapid implementation and low cost.¹˒² It is characterized by engaging both health teams and the community in reflection and problem identification, integrating theoretical knowledge with practical, and thereby fostering user participation in the construction of health services.³ This study aimed to report the experience of applying RPA as a planning tool in a area of a Family Health Team in a municipality in southern Brazil.
METHODS:
This is an experience report conducted over four months (March–July) in a Primary Health Care unit of Porto Alegre, serving approximately 18,000 users. The process involved secondary epidemiological and demographic data analysis, territorial observation, open interviews with key informants (health professionals, community representative, and school worker), and team-based reflective meetings. Data were systematized into thematic categories and structured into an intervention matrix with prioritized problems, objectives, and strategic actions.
RESULTS:
The RPA identified barriers to access, low social participation, absence of recreational infrastructure, and territorial violence affecting service organization. The intervention matrix supported the implementation of concrete actions, including smoking cessation and physical activity groups, reorganization of medical and nursing schedules, outreach care using a mobile clinic, and active engagement in the Municipal Health Conference. The process strengthened team–community bonds and improved territorial presence of the health service.
CONCLUSIONS:
RPA proved to be a feasible and low-cost participatory planning strategy in Primary Health Care, fostering co-responsibility and interprofessional collaboration. Despite challenges related to workload and contextual violence, the methodology contributed to contextualized decision-making and reinforced community-oriented care. However, its reliance on key informants may limit broader representativeness, highlighting the need for complementary participatory strategies.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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