[Metal worker's perception of health problems and environmental risks at the work place]. / Percepção de trabalhadores metalúrgicos sobre problemas de saúde e riscos ambientais.

Research was carried out in Osasco, Greater São Paulo, to know the main health problems perceived by metalworkers' at their workplace and the need actions to prevent it or minimize them. With this objective in mind, 452 workers were interviewed at a metallurgic industry by means of a questionnaire in which they were asked first to mention five health problems perceived at the workplace, and then to select the most important one. They were also asked what they thought managers, supervisors and workers could do to avoid or minimize the main risk each worker had selected. According to their answer, although the chemical risk was the most frequently mentioned, the suggestions to actions to be implemented by supervisors and managers were related to psycho-social factors, that is, human problems of administration and organizational behavior.

[The concepts of health education and promotion: individual and organizational changes]. / Conceitos de educação e de promoção em saúde: mudanças individuais e mudanças organizacionais.

The distinguishing characteristics of the definitions of health promotion and health education are here examined. Two different planning frameworks, the PRECEDE-PROCEDE and the HELPSAM models are introduced. Solutions can be directed in two major directions are discussed: individual changes and organizational changes. It is therefore, important for specialists to have an in-depth knowledge of the areas of viable intervention and to understand their functions and role in public health practice.

[An integrated approach to the planning of health promotion]. / Planejamento em promoçao em saúde uma abordagem integrada.

This article addresses the specific problem of Health Promotion an Education planning, which involves three levels in an organization: the institution-wide level, the programmatic level and the user's level. Regardless of where the technical commitment is indicated, the ideal is to organize at all three levels, otherwise the program planning is likely to be incidental, fragmented, and ineffective. Comments are made on the theory of implementation and some barriers to implementation of Health Promotion and Education programs are discussed.

[Delineation of the professional role of health education specialists: a technical proposal]. / Delineamento do papel profissional dos especialistas em Educação em Saúde--uma proposta técnica.

The responsibilities, competencies and subcompetencies of the Health Education Specialists of the State Health Department of S. Paulo are assessed in this study with a view to verifying the agreement, or otherwise, between the proposals for the technical activity of these health professionals in Brazil and in the United States. With this end in view the document entitled "A Framework for the Development of Competency-based Curricula for Entry--level Health Education" was utilized as the basis for the questions included in the questionnaires submitted to health educators. The results describe the degree of importance attributed to the technical responsibilities and the frequency with which these are performed in the service network of the State Health Department of S. Paulo, Brazil.

[Minimal standards in the practice of health education--a pioneer project]. / Padrões mínimos da prática da educação em saúde--um projeto pioneiro.

PAHO/WHO sought an institution which could be asked to prepare a definition--in concrete, operational terms--of the basic responsibilities and areas of activity of the health professionals in charge of the educational actions appropriate to the health system. The School of Public Health (Health Education area) of the University of S. Paulo accepted this responsibility for the study of the definition of the health educator's role. This article sets out some of the positive results which have arisen, as a result of that study, over the two last years.

[Health education in the prevention of the risk of premature weaning]. / Educação em saude na prevenção do risco de desmame precoce.

PIP: A study was undertaken to verify which of 5 variables--age, parity, birth spacing, family income/month, and schooling--had the greatest effect on the average length of breastfeeding and, for each variable, which was the critical point. Statistical analysis according to the Morgan and Sonquist statistical method permitted the recognition of the characteristics of women with the greatest risk for premature weaning. The use of the concepts "premature weaning risk" and "accumulated child risk" was proposed. (author's modified)^ieng

From hygiene to public health education.

This paper is a review of the development of health education in Brazil (identified as "hygiene" in early times, it has evolved to "public health education"). The field has passed through infancy and adolescence facing all kinds of problems, and is entering adulthood with health education leadership now in the hands of an increasing number of specialists trained in the country. The authors suggest that to hasten progress, more attention should be given to integration of health education to health programs, to stimulation of research, to preparation of health personnel, and to administrative support of health education services.