Social Workers’ Experiences and Collaboration with Public Health Professionals in a Low-Income Country: A Qualitative Study

Gloria Macassa (), Janete Mabuie, José Da Cruz Francisco and Joaquim Soares
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Gloria Macassa: Department of Social Work, Criminology and Public Health Sciences, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 80176 Gävle, Sweden
Janete Mabuie: Instituto Superior de Ciências de Saúde, Av. Tomás Nduda, Maputo, Mozambique
José Da Cruz Francisco: Department of Chemical Engineering, Eduardo Mondlane University, Av. De Moçambique Km 1, 5, Maputo, Mozambique
Joaquim Soares: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Psychology, Universidade Europeia, Estrada da Correia nº53, 1500-210 Lisbon, Portugal

Societies, 2025, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: social work; public health; interprofessional collaboration; sustainable development; Mozambique (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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