Social support networks in practice of popular health education: reflections of an action-research

Social support networks are crucial for people with disabilities of the lower classes. This study presents the route of an action-research, analyzing the social support networks of these people and findings related to learning research guided by the principles of Popular Education (PE). The study had two phases: interviews to map the social support networks, activation and mobilization of these networks. The first step found that isolation was a problem that these people experienced. Then there were meetings involving the various actors of the social network, both at personal and community levels. Various difficulties were encountered during this process and learning about the process as a result. PE was essential to understanding the difficulties and motivations of the subjects of the research, by guiding activities and helping to persist in actions and believing in the subjects ability to be more.