Resumen

ARIAS, Armando. Casas Comunitarias de Salud una estrategia de salud. An Venez Nutr [online]. 2005, vol.18, n.1, pp.132-133. ISSN 0798-0752.

Abstract Diseases prevalent in childhood are still the main causes of death in children 0 to 5 years of age. Among these are: diarrhea, pneumonia, infections preventable by vaccination, malaria, dengue, anemia and, as a common factor that increases the lethal effect of these last, malnutrition. Also, in pregnant women and in the lying- in period, the three main causes of death: hypertension (eclampsia), sepsis and hemorrhages, all preventable causes. Considering these facts, the Venezuelan Ministerio de Salud y Desarrollo Social (MSDS) develops, at a national level, the prevention of childhood and maternal mortality with the strategy of the Community Health Homes: attended by well trained voluntaries in the early detection of signs of diseases prevalent in childhood, as well as of pregnant women and women in the post natal period, with the object of an early referral to the nearest Health Center. These are part of a health web in different levels of attention, and they perform activities of epidemiologic non-conventional monitoring and nutritional comptrollership. This has allowed the incorporation of the community of pregnant women and children without periodic control, the early diagnosis o nutritional problems and the strengthening of education and the promotion of quality of life.

Palabras clave : Diseases prevalent in childhood; community health homes; epidemiologic surveillance; nutritional comptrollership.