Weaknesses and strategies to strengthen Occupational Health actions in Primary Health Care: perceptions of health workers

Abstract Objective To identify weaknesses and strategies to strengthen worker’s health actions in Primary Health Care (PHC) based on the knowledge and perceptions of health professionals. Methods This qualitative descriptive exploratory research was conducted in a city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, between July and August 2020. Seventeen health professionals linked to three PHC units participated. The theoretical saturation criterion was observed for the composition of the convenience sample. The data were analyzed according to content thematic analysis. Results As weaknesses, participants had difficulty in recognizing PHC users as workers, showing little familiarity with worker’s health line of care, disarticulation of different points in the network, and limited performance of the Workers’ Health Reference Centers (Cerest – Centros de Referência em Saúde do Trabalhador). They pointed out strategies for strengthening such as: knowledge and recognition of Cerest as a supporter of activities in health services, strengthening of intersectoral articulation for workers’ health surveillance, health education actions, and PHC structure for worker access. Conclusion The identified weaknesses and strategies point to the need for investment in the revitalization of the Cerest, articulation of the care network, and training professionals, focused on matrix support and the assumptions of workers’ health surveillance.