BETWEEN THE HEALTH-DISEASE PROCESS AND COLLECTIVE INTERVENTION: THE NATURAL HISTORY OF DISEASES AS A BASIS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the health-disease process and collective intervention, based on the natural history of diseases. Methodologically, it is a narrative literature review with a qualitative approach and descriptive-analytical character, carried out using databases such as BVS, SciELO, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Articles, books, and institutional documents relevant to the topic were included and analyzed in an interpretative and integrated manner, without predefined categorization, aiming at the construction of a continuous critical analysis. Thus, the natural history of diseases remains an important organizing instrument for preventive practices, enabling the definition of prevention levels and the identification of opportune moments for intervention. However, its application should not be uncritical, because when used in a reductionist way, it can reinforce excessive medicalization and neglect the social determinants of illness. In this sense, there is a need to articulate this model with broader perspectives of public health, incorporating aspects such as social inequalities, service organization, and territorial context. It is concluded that the natural history of diseases remains a relevant but insufficient framework when used in isolation. Its effectiveness depends on its articulation with critical and interdisciplinary approaches capable of considering the complexity of the health-disease process. Thus, collective intervention in public health should be understood as an integrated practice, guided by evidence, social needs, and the principles of equity and comprehensiveness.