Intersectoral collaboration to promote child development: mapping the relationships

Integrated and intersectoral interventions early in life have the greatest potential to address social inequities, ensuring better opportunities for access to child development support services. The “Projeto Nascente” (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais and Ministry of Health, Brazil) sought to qualify health and other sectors professionals in actions to promote and monitor early child development, in primary health care. One of its focuses was to stimulate the intersectoral actions to promote child development. The research analyzed the intersectoral network in 31 municipalities in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, participating in the 'Projeto Nascente'. A case study with a qualitative approach was developed using document research on the professionals' perception regarding intersectoral networking. The material was ecomaps elaborated by professionals during the training of the “Projeto Nascente”. The ecomaps represented the local intersectoral networks. Initially, 29 ecomaps from eleven municipalities were analyzed. Social Protection, Education, Sports, Culture, churches and non-governmental organizations were cited. Other health services were also included. All ecomaps were represented with the family health team in a central position with the other services around them. In municipalities with more than one ecomap, there was no uniformity neither in the services nor in the quality of the relationships represented. A closer relationship between Education and Social Protection was noticed. However, the quality of the relationships often seemed stressful. Health professionals reported that they invest more energy in relationships than other sectors. Sport and Culture, although less mentioned, seem to be potential partners for new collaborations. The emergence of other health services seems to reflect the fragmentation of the health sector, as well as evidence of the conceptual confusion surrounding intersectoral collaboration. Key messages The identification and mapping of the services networking aimed at promoting child development are essential steps in the process of stimulating and reflecting on intersectoral collaboration. The centrality and self-perceived protagonism of the health professionals may not be the best way to involve and count on the participation of other sectors in intersectoral collaboration.