title: The family health system: analysis of a health survey in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Family Health Strategy (FHS) has been implemented as a strategy for primary care improvement in Brazil. Working with teams that include one doctor, one nurse, auxiliary nurses and community health workers in predefined areas, the FHS began in 1994 (known then as the Family Health Program) and has since grown considerably. The programme has only recently undergone assessment of outcomes, in contrast to more routine evaluations of infrastructure and process.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2001, a health survey was carried out in two administrative districts (with 190,000 inhabitants) on the outskirts of the city of São Paulo, both partially served by the FHS. Chronic morbidity (hypertension, diabetes and ischaemic heart disease) of individuals aged 15 or older was studied in areas covered and not covered by the programme. Stratified univariate analysis was applied for sex, age, education, income, working status and social insurance of these populations. Multivariate analysis was applied where applicable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a distinct pattern in the morbidity profile of these populations, suggesting differentiated self-knowledge on chronic disease status in the areas served by the FHS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FHS can increase population awareness of chronic diseases, possibly through increasing access to primary care.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. ricardo.brandao@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: José Ricardo Mello
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: Reinaldo José
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gianini
authors.forename: Hilegonda Maria Dutilh
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Novaes
authors.forename: Moisés
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldbaum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D055815:Young Adult