Characterization of the profile of Planners in basic sanitation in the Alto Oeste Potiguar Region

Abstract

The Municipal Basic Sanitation Plans are planning instruments that aim to subsidize basic sanitation actions in the short, medium and long term in Brazilian municipalities, based on a reliable diagnosis of the conditions in their territories. Understanding sanitation as an important contributing factor to the development of regions, landscape control and health conditions, the document must reflect the aspirations of the population, needs and local and regional specificities. The preparation of these documents requires a discussion that involves society and, considering their relevance to municipalities, the environment and health conditions, must be coordinated with responsibility. The objective of this article is to identify the profile of basic sanitation planners in the Alto Oeste Potiguar region. For this, a qualitative, descriptive-exploratory, field research was carried out, through the application of a structured questionnaire and it was possible to verify that there is a great variation, both between the functions occupied by those responsible for the elaboration of the municipalities and between the secretariats/ folders responsible for conducting the process. The need for a better delimitation or indication of the profile of the professional indicated for this function is highlighted, aiming at the correct diagnosis and the correct planning of actions that will directly impact the living conditions of the population, in the short, medium and long term.