Resumen El diálogo de saberes es un método cualitativo que busca comprender, sintetizar, teorizar y contextualizar el conocimiento; permite entender los problemas y necesidades que tiene la población, mediante la reflexión y discusión de los actores, basándose en las palabras de la misma población. Este artículo reflexiona sobre el diálogo de saberes para explicar cómo este permite identificar de manera más cercana la situación, problemas y necesidades de salud que tiene la población. También presenta una revisión de experiencias similares, evidenciando la utilidad que tiene el uso de este método. Asimismo, se sugiere que el diálogo de saberes sea un punto de partida para el estudio e intervención de las principales problemáticas de la población, y a su vez integrar el conocimiento médico con los saberes tradicionales que se enmarcan dentro de la Atención Primaria en Salud (APS).

Abstract Knowledge dialogues is a method of qualitative methodologies that seeks to understand, synthesize, theorize and contextualize knowledge. Knowledge dialogues is a suitable method to understand and identify health problems and needs of the population. Through knowledge dialogues and the reflection and discussion, they promote, community actors and health professionals can understand deeper concerns of each other. This article refers to the review of the subject of knowledge dialogues to explain how using this type of approach one can identify more closely the situation, problems and needs that people have. The article also presents a review of similar experiences, demonstrating the utility of this method. In conclusion it is suggested that knowledge dialogues remains a key factor to focus in the study and intervention of population groups, acknowledging its existence, together with integrating medical knowledge with traditional knowledge are part of primary health care (PHC).

ABSTRACT Primary health care looks beyond clinical services to health promotion and primary prevention at the population level. In 2011, Colombia adopted a normative approach to primary health care, to advance efforts to set health priorities and transcend a curative, hospital-based system. An intervention was carried out in eight communities in Bogotá and Cundinamarca, Colombia to build community capacity to influence health. Activities included training community leaders to design and implement health improvement initiatives aimed at the most important health problems identified by their organizations. Twenty-eight leaders completed the training. They designed and implemented eight health improvement plans to address the most important health problems in their respective communities: protecting public spaces for children’s physical activities, improving family practices in child nutrition, organizing a health insurance beneficiaries’ health promotion network, organizing a service delivery network for homeless persons, connecting people with cognitive disabilities to treatment services, combatting violence against women, working against child abuse, and integrating health education into school curricula. Lessons were learned about capacity-building in primary care, approaches to strengthening intra- and interinstitutional conditions, and managing processes for community ownership. The intervention enabled development of initiatives for solving various problems by different types of organizations, highlighted participants’ understanding of their role as health agents, and promoted community participation and intersectoral action.