Family health strategy from a user perspective

Abstract

Objective: to gain insight into users’ perception in relation to the Family Health Strategy. Method: qualitative study, case study model, carried out in 2005, in a district of Minas Gerais. Data collected in semi-structured interviews with four families. Data analysis done by content analysis. Results: users see the health service as welcoming and humanized, and feel connected to it. They are dissatisfied with the creation of a healthcare services flow for receiving care from the family health unit, and gaining access to other levels of assistance within the Unified Health System. Predominance of disease-centered healthcare model though users recognition of importance of actions for health promotion and disease prevention. Conclusion: there are perceivable challenges in consolidating primary health care attention as a regulator of the system, and of communication with society, even with users acknowledging the service as welcoming, humanized and connected to the community