Process of restructuring of a family planning: construction of female autonomy at a Healthcare center in Ceará

This article bases on a study that aimed to report the experience of restructuring the family planning care at an Unidade Basica de Saude – UBS (Healthcare center) of a municipality in Ceara. After discussions with the health team of the UBS, invitations were delivered to women at reproductive age to take part in the new model of family planning at the UBS. Thus they began a group approach about family planning, introducing guidelines about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Afterwards, there was an individual service to deal with private information and prescription of the method according to the consensus between the patient and the nurse. Thus the nurse-patient bond was narrowed and brought benefits for the UBS itself, insofar as the services have become more effective. It was concluded that health education processes are dynamic and restructurings are valid, considering the needs of patients.