Social Workers’ Experiences and Collaboration with Public Health Professionals in a Low-Income Country
A Qualitative Study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13024199 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Gloria Macassa (0000-0003-4415-7942, University of Gävle, corresponding author), Janete Mabuie (Instituto Superior de Ciencias de Saude), José da Cruz Francisco (0009-0009-7220-6597, Eduardo Mondlane University), Joaquim Soares (0000-0001-5221-9504, Universidade Europeia) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 10 |
| Pages | 278-278 |
| Publication date | 2025-10-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Societies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2075-4698 • E-ISSN: 2075-4698 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/soc15100278 |
| OpenAlex | W4414746645 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 32 |
Social workers and public health professionals are expected to collaborate in promoting health and social equity to address the complex challenges faced by societies now and in the future. This collaboration is particularly crucial in low-income countries, where social and health issues significantly affect people’s wellbeing. This study explored social workers’ perceptions of their role in society, their collaboration with public health professionals, and the importance of sustainable development in their professional practice. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted between March and June 2024, involving semi-structured interviews with twelve professional social workers from the three main geographic regions of Mozambique (north, central, and south). Content analysis was used to identify and synthesize the key categories that emerged from the data. Four main categories were identified: limited public understanding of the mission and practice of social work; a lack of collaboration with public health professionals; the integration of sustainable development goals into social work practice; and anticipated future challenges for Mozambique’s social and public health sectors. The findings highlight a perceived lack of societal awareness regarding the role of social workers and limited interprofessional collaboration, with barriers such as poor communication and a lack of mutual understanding between the two professions. Moreover, the participants recognized the need to contribute, through their daily work alongside public health professionals, to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
Exploratory research · Perception · Public health · Qualitative research · Social determinants of health · Sustainable development · Work (physics · Social Work Education and Practice
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Interprofessional dynamics that promote client empowerment in mental health practice
Social work education and practice in Africa
Health intersectoralism in the Sustainable Development Goal era
We all have the same right to have health services’
Child Sexual Abuse Allegations
Working Definition of Social Work Practice
A History of Social Work in Public Health
Enhancing Interprofessional Education
Being Seconded to a Mental Health Trust
Tackling Inequalities in Health
Jack of All Trades and Master of None’? Exploring Social Work’s Epistemic Contribution to Team-Based Health Care
Which Environmental Social Work? Environmentalisms, Social Justice, and the Dilemmas Ahead
Naturalistic inquiry
Roles of health care social workers in a multi-professional team
Social Work and Sustainable Development Goals
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |