Reflections about the similarities and the differences in the primary care of social services of Barcelona-Spain and Fortaleza-Brazil

Abstract

This Communication presents and reflects about the similarities and differences between the primary care of social services in Barcelona-Spain and Fortaleza-Brasil, emphasizing the public policies, the organization of this centers and the intervention of social workers. This investigation presents acomparative study. The methodology used is a qualitative approach; as a research method the case study; and the instruments were the participant observation, the individual interview to professionals and the group interview to the families attended. As the results it presents the similarities and differences between the public policies and the social work (in primary care) in the two countries. It has been shown that, despite the difference between the two social contexts, there are considerable similarities in the primary care of social services in both realities. However, the social context makes the differencein professional intervention: In Barcelona the individual and family care predominates, while in Fortaleza preponderates home visits and intervention groups.