THE ROLE OF PRIMARY CARE: UNDERSTANDING AND LIMITATIONS FROM THE USERS’ PERSPECTIVE

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Understanding by users about the services developed in primary care unit is one of the factors leading to the effectiveness of activities, as the misinformation in the community contributes to organizational breakdown between levels of care. Moreover, made aware, the service user will become an active subject of the health-disease process. The research aimed to analyze the knowledge of the users about the services provided at primary care unit. METHOD: Exploratory, descriptive and qualitative study with a sample of 90 users of three primary care unit Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: It was noticed that the majority of patients were women (68), with low education (54) and earning the minimum wage (49). Among the respondents, only 42 were able to answer correctly, the purpose of primary care unit and 48 respondents associated services to disadvantaged socioeconomically. When inquiring about received guidance on habits and actions to maintain a healthy life, 28 users said they did not receive such guidance and 62 people said they received, citing as the main source of information the nurse, followed by the doctor, by health workers and finally, the nutritionist. We conclude, therefore, that the majority of the population still has a mistaken view about the real purpose of the primary care unit, realizing the need for greater investment in health education, so that public policies are recognized and accepted by the target community, favoring the health promotion and disease prevention.