title: [An assessment of the Family Health Program in municipalities of Northeast Brazil: old and new challenges].
abstract: This article presents part of the results from the Baseline Studies, an evaluative research conducted in 21 municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants each, in three States of Northeast Brazil. The overall objective was to assess experiences in the implementation of the Family Health Program (FHP), with a focus on inductions in the PROESF. An implementation analysis was performed, using the case study method. The analysis focused on these dimensions: political-institutional, health organization, and comprehensive care. Outstanding advances included: prioritize the FHP in high-risk areas; institutional learning, with qualification of managers and teams; definition of institutional levels for regulating the FHP; and health team-user bonds and positive perceptions concerning the program. Challenges included: strengthening of local policy and decision-making capacity; allocation of primary care resources; greater employment security for human resources; effective implementation of the health care network; strengthening of social participation; upgrading of monitoring and evaluation for decision-making; receptivity; waiting lines for tests, appointments, and hospital admissions; implementation of teamwork; health promotion and inter-sector activities.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Núcleo de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil. paulorocha@digi.com.br
authors.forename: Paulo de Medeiros
authors.initials: Pde M
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Alice da Costa
authors.initials: Ada C
authors.lastname: Uchoa
authors.forename: Nadja de Sá Pinto Dantas
authors.initials: Nde S
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Elizabethe Cristina Fagundes de
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Marconi de Lima
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Themis Xavier de Albuquerque
authors.initials: TX
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D003191:Comprehensive Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D003657:Decision Making; D005192:Family Health; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D012041:Regional Medical Programs / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards