Employment and income generation as a Health Promotion Strategy: the case of women submitted to mastectomy in Nova Iguaçu, RJ, Brazil

The topic covered in the present article, generating employment and income for women submitted to mastectomy, came from the need to redirect the health practice developed by a breast oncology physical therapy outpatient clinic of a city of the BaixadaFluminense region of the State of Rio de Janeiro, based on Health Promotion. Given the dilemma that most women physically fit for work were not in the labor market because of complications of surgery and changes in post-mastectomy care routine, an intervention project was developed aimed at empowering these women in order to restore their productive capacity and economic independence. Although it has not been completely implemented, expected results are greater autonomy, increased purchasing power, social recognition and strengthening the link between women and other players, thereby creating a support network. The results are in line with National Health Promotion Policy values, such as solidarity, humanization, co-responsibility, justice, and social inclusion.