The Brazilian Association for Research in Prevention and Health Promotion (BRAPEP)¹1. Associação Brasileira de Pesquisa em Prevenção e Promoção da Saúde - BRAPEP [Internet]. 2019 [citado 1 Jun 2019]. Disponível em: http://brapep.org.br/
http://brapep.org.br/... was founded in August 2016 during the 1st Conference on Prevention Research and held at the University of São Paulo. Its purpose was the bringing together and strengthening of the network of researchers working in the field of health promotion and prevention of health problems. BRAPEP was established to encourage research, training, dissemination of knowledge and the defence of the Brazilian public health system and its scientific policies. It had 53 founding members.

BRAPEP is a non-profit organisation that brings together researchers from different academic disciplines, guided by diverse theories and research methods, who are sensitive to the complexity of the research problems in the field. It is inclusive of health professionals, managers, students and civil society. It conceives that knowledge production and use is guided with an ethical approach which is intrinsically committed to the reduction of social inequities, the protection of human rights and democratic values, and the promotion of social justice and sustainable development.

The 1^stConference of BRAPEP took place at the University of Brasilia in August 2018, under the theme “Challenges for research on prevention and health promotion in contexts of social inequity”. It attracted 230 participants alongside 148 papers presenting different experiences and approaches to prevention and health promotion. Participants of the 1st BRAPEP Conference were invited to actively participate in the needs assessment that would orient the development of the work agenda of BRAPEP for the coming years. The discussions were held through collaborative work groups focused on the following themes: collaboration and national networks, collaboration and international networks, research with vulnerable populations, public policies and management, continuing education, and career development.

BRAPEP also identified priorities to be addressed:

• strengthening prevention science and health promotion research in Brazil, focusing on the development of studies that empower individuals, organizations and communities, especially those silenced by historical, cultural, economic and educational oppression in the Brazilian context;

• nurturing of collaborative and solidary relationships with multiple actors in Brazil and abroad;

• coordinating efforts to advocate for the use of scientific research findings in the decision making by political actors; strengthening prevention and health promotion education in universities and in health services;

• and the rapprochement between researchers of several generations and the expansion of career perspectives for new generations.

We hope that in the years ahead it will be possible to adopt work processes that allow the achievement, at least to some extent, of the previously indicated priorities and, consequently, of the mission of BRAPEP which is to provide qualified exchange among researchers in the field of health promotion and prevention of health problems. With the strengthening of this network we hope to directly affect research and education in Brazil, and indirectly affect health services, systems and policies, whether these are scientific, health or other related policies. If, on the one hand, the challenges are countless, on the other, it is an ethical imperative that we associate ourselves with other voices with similar missions, aimed at improving health in our country and in the world.

References

Publication Dates

History