Objetivo:

to investigate the characteristics of health communication services taking the Municipal Health Department Councils network in Brazil as a basis.

Methods:

this was a quantitative study with an exploratory design conducted in 2014-2015, using non-probability sampling. Four structured questionnaires were used examining four dimensions: 1) structure of the communication advisory service work; 2) profile of the professionals working in these services; 3) the main duties of these advisory services, and 4) possible variants of municipalities not having this specialized service.

Results:

72 of the 122 participating municipalities did not have a communication advisory service and only two network members had communications directorates; work facilities were precarious, professionals had little length of communication advisory service; they did not have job stability and were not members of the health management councils.

Conclusion:

Although they provide direct advice to health secretaries, the working conditions of communication professionals compromise their planning actions.

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