Health promotion in the governmental agenda of the state of Bahia: politics or rhetoric?

Abstract

This study is aimed at analyzing the conditioning and determining factors in the incorporation of health  promotion proposals into the governmental agenda  of the healthcare industry of the state of Bahia, in the  period from 2007 to 2014, recognizing the inception  of studies that analyze the constitution process of  government agendas for health promotion. The  research was theoretically anchored to the Multiple  Flow model, proposed by Kingdon, which highlights  the influence of the active participants and problem  flow, as well as of alternatives and political streams  in establishing government agenda. In addition, we  were supported by Mario Testa’s theory to recognize  the resources of the power of the participants. A  single case study was conducted, with research on  secondary sources and interviews with key informants. In conclusion, the constitution of the  health  promotion agenda of the state of Bahia was based  more on a symbolic representation than on a policy to be pursued. We recognize that the paths that lead to  the choices of health promotion alternatives do not  correspond to concrete problems, and it is essentially  based on the political flow in which the situation was  involved.