Social representations and public health care: subjectivity as a participant in the daily routine in health care

Abstract

In this paper the author discusses the conceptual impasses set up with
regard to the definition of a new Public Health, based upon the paradigms proposed by the movement of health promotion, articulated with the theory of social representations. This articulation is contextualized in the transfor- mations imposed by a new logic emerged from postmodernity. The theory of social representations is understood in accordance with the Moscovician current and used to discuss the possibilities of application and interfaces
established with the public help. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the author tries to surpass the problems presented by the relation objective - subjective; general - particular; individual - collective and prevention promotion. Some possiblitities of articulation of these theoretical fields are explored as well as the difficulties research faces nowadays when it adopts that approach.