This article presents a mapping and analysis of monitoring and assessment research in Primary Health Care conducted and/or financed by the Ministry of Health and completed and published from 2000 to 2006. A total of 109 studies were identified, of which 11 had been completed, 84 were ongoing, and 14 had been concluded and had published partial results. First, studies from 2000 to 2002 were addressed to analyze the implementation of the Family Health Program and detect its weaknesses, potentialities, and costs. This phase could be described as "evaluation for decision-making", emphasizing the views of managers and health professionals. Another characteristic was the fragmentation/overlapping of studies, often conducted simultaneously and with similar objectives and methodologies. Most of the studies were published as technical reports using specialized, complicated language. The PROESF baseline studies performed since 2004 represent a step forward by incorporating elements for overcoming weaknesses in previous processes; these new elements include impact assessments, methodologies, and results-sharing, involving actors from Municipal and State health secretariats, and staff training in evaluation activities, and the perspectives of health services users.
Primary Health Care; Family Health Program; Monitoring
