Knowledge and utilization of basic health service by families in a Southern municipality of Brazil

Abstract

This investigation was made to verify the knowledge and use of basic health services (BHS) by families resident in the East side of a municipality of Paraná State. Three hundred and eighty five families, selected from the Basic Health Service System were interviewed. The instrument, with closed questions, previously tested, was applied by trained Nursing and Statistics undergraduate students, in February and March 2004. From the families 78% had any kind of private health care plan, and 95.3% knew some activities offered by the BHS. The medical visits were mentioned by 91.7%, followed by the laboratory tests activities mentioned by 68.8% and drug distribution mentioned by 38.5% of families. It was observed that only 22.9% of families had some knowledge about dental care services. The BHS were used by 90% of families and the reasons for the use were the proximity to their home (53.9%) or because they had no other option of health assistance (40.3%). The health team has to evaluate the services offered, to improve and humanize the health assistance, also to care about the good appearance of the BHS physical area. Beyond families’ knowledge and the BHS utilization profile, this study had also showed some main aspects of research methods for population surveys.

Key words: Family; Health Services Research; Basic Health Services; Family Health Program; Health Services Needs and Demand.