Políticas públicas de saúde do homem do campo no semiárido nordestino

: ( Public health policies for rural men in the Northeastern semi-arid region ). The study sought to unveil the factors that hinder the touch exam, analyzing and discussing aspects such as identity, subjectivity and gender, with a view to understanding how the Integral Care Policy's interdiction or compromise mechanism occurred. It aimed to analyze the complex and conflicting nature of the touch exam and its implications for gender studies. The methodology of a qualitative nature and with an interpretive bias was supported by the phenomenological approach, whose path was: analysis and theoretical interpretation of studies and documents related to the object of studies; elaboration and application of an interview script (recorded, transcribed and analyzed) with 31 volunteers – all men, over 45 years old and residents of the rural community of Alexandria / RN, at the Maniçoba and Cacimba de Cima sites; interpretation of results and considerations. The results showed that men sought health posts infrequently, justifying the absence of need. In contrast, attitudes and affirmations of masculinity / virility were noted that overlapped any demand in the health field, especially when dealing with serious diseases, such as prostate cancer. It was noticed that the subjectivity of the exam, where the man's body is touched, seems to be more significant than the self-care. It was evident in the rural communities studied, the need to create and strengthen professional staff to act in the fight against prejudice and in the elaboration of solid planning in the field of men's health. de suas identidades. Nesse sentido, é preciso romper com as propostas informativas e de transmissão de conhecimentos e fomentar espaços e estratégias educativas nos quais a temática de gênero e das masculinidades possam ser discutidas, problematizadas e, talvez assim, ressignificadas. ( MODENA et al ., 2013, p. 652 )