Perception of nurses about their role in reducing health inequalities in community settings

Objective: to understand nurses' perceptions of their role in reducing health inequalities in community settings. Method: qualitative study with a phenomenological approach, based on Heidegger's interpretative theory and the areas of health inequalities. Eighteen in-depth interviews were conducted with nurses working in community intervention health institutions. A five-phase process was adopted to analyze the qualitative data: Accumulation, Disassembly, Reassembly, Interpretation, and Conclusion. Results: four main themes were identified that mobilize nurses to mitigate health inequalities in community settings: Competencies to build, operationalize, monitor, and evaluate health policies; Leadership and management of health and care processes at the individual and collective levels; Professionals who generate strategies for care; and Care approach based on the characteristics of the territory. Conclusion: nurses perceive that their role contributes significantly to reducing health inequalities in community settings through the design, operationalization, monitoring, and evaluation of health policies. Based on the sociocultural, economic and political characteristics of the territory, they prioritize actions in disadvantaged human groups, in order to improve access, opportunity, continuity and quality in health.