Community Health Workers and the use of digital health: Transformations of a living work

Authors

  • Romário Correia dos Santos Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Instituto Aggeu Magalhães (IAM)/Fiocruz Pernambuco, Laboratório de Saúde, Ambiente e Trabalho (Lasat) – Recife (PE), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4973-123X
  • Lenira Ferreira Ribeiro Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Instituto de Saúde Coletiva (ISC) – Salvador (BA), Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0494-3770
  • Cláudia Fell Amado Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Instituto de Saúde Coletiva (ISC) – Salvador (BA), Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3852-0792
  • Aline do Monte Gurgel Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Instituto Aggeu Magalhães (IAM)/Fiocruz Pernambuco, Laboratório de Saúde, Ambiente e Trabalho (Lasat) – Recife (PE), Brasil.
  • Luis Carlos Nunes Vieira de Vieira Ministério da Saúde (MS), Secretaria de Gestão do Trabalho e da Educação na Saúde (SGTES) – Brasília (DF), Brasil.
  • Lívia Milena Barbosa de Deus e Méllo Ministério da Saúde (MS), Secretaria de Gestão do Trabalho e da Educação na Saúde (SGTES) – Brasília (DF), Brasil.
  • Liliana Santos Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Instituto de Saúde Coletiva (ISC) – Salvador (BA), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8958-4094

Keywords:

Accessibility to health services, Primary Health Care, Community Health Workers, Health policy, Digital health

Abstract

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are immersed in technological transformation that directly impacts their knowledge and practices. This article aims to analyze the advantages of digital health based on the use of mobile technologies in Primary Health Care in the work of the CHWs. This qualitative research uses a triangulation of methods supported by interviews, focus groups, and non-participant observation involving union leaders, managers, and health professionals. The data collected were interpreted based on content analysis. The results indicate advantages of the work of the CHWs with digital technologies for the health system, such as expanding access and coverage, improved quality of collected information, territorial planning, and care. There were gains in social legitimacy for the professional category due to the technological densification of work. It is also noted that despite digital transformations, their territorial insertion should be guided by the production of care from the perspective of the social determination of health and living work. It is concluded that, although the fourth technological revolution is irreversible, the work and presence of CHWs in the daily life of the territory will remain indispensable.

Published

2025-08-25

How to Cite

1.
dos Santos RC, Ribeiro LF, Amado CF, Gurgel A do M, Vieira de Vieira LCN, de Deus e Méllo LMB, et al. Community Health Workers and the use of digital health: Transformations of a living work. Saúde debate [Internet]. 2025 Aug. 25 [cited 2025 Oct. 9];49(146). Available from: https://www.saudeemdebate.org.br/sed/article/view/9891

Issue

Section

Original Article

Data statement

  • The research data is contained in the manuscript