title: [Characteristics of Family Health Program users sample in Campo Bom (RS), Brazil during the year of 2006].
abstract: This study aims to describe the characteristics of Family Health Program (FHP) users sample in a Basic Health Unit (BHU) in Campo Bom, southern of Brazil. Based on data collected from the handbook of the first 200 patients attended in a specific BHU in January 2006, we analyzed sex, age, average number of medical and nursing consultations in the last twelve months and the reasons for requiring a BHU attendance. In this sample, 68% were female. Children represented 30.5% of the sample and 35.5% of the patients self-declared as married. In addition to that, 59% had not finished basic school. Almost half (42%) of the citizens presented some chronic disease as a complaint to go to a BUH and 17% were looking for preventive health care. In 2005, 17% of the sample had, at least, one nursing consulting and 46.5% of these had from one to four medical consultations. Chronicle diseases and its symptoms or complications represented a significant percentage of the sample and might be associated to the demands for BHU health assistance. Data collected shows the necessity of more investments to prevent complications and/or incapability. Based on a deep understanding of BHU patients' profile, family health teams can improve effectiveness of their health promotion actions focusing on community demands.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Novo Hamburgo, RS, 93352-000. bgoulart@via-rs.net
authors.forename: Bárbara Niegia Garcia
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: de Goulart
authors.forename: Andressa Regina
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Algayer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D055815:Young Adult