Objective:

This article has the purpose of evidencing the conceptions of institutional health promoters regarding their field of work by analyzing the habitus in which they are immersed in a model focused on biological aspects. Health Promotion is the main strategy that governments propose to guarantee the human right to health. However, health personnel working in the Secretary of Health is immersed in a hegemonic medical system limited, for many reasons, to carry out their duties.

Materials and methods:

It is a qualitative research. A total of 13 in-depth interviews were carried out with male and female personnel from the area of health promotion who worked in primary level care units in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.

Results:

Five basic categories emerged that show how the institutional health promoter conceives the role he plays in his work field, the hierarchical relationships imposed, as well as disadvantages of the role he plays in health services.

Conclusions:

the findings allow visualizing the way in which promoters carry out and conceptualize health promotion.

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