RESUMO
Background: The perception of the population about their needs must be considered in health care planning. Aim: To describe health care needs from the perspective of potential clients of public health services. Material and methods: An enquiry to a representative sample of 202 dwellings, ascribed to a Family Health Service, was done. Subjects were asked about the health problems in their family and neighborhood. Twelve families from this sample were randomly chosen and interviewed about their health conception, needs and demands. Results: The mean age of subjects, per dwelling, was 31 years. Fifty percent were nuclear families and 6 percent were mono parental. Perceived problems were economical in 60 percent and health related in 12 percent. Eighty percent of health problems were related to addictions and violence. Interviewed subjects associated health with lack of services, with their experience with illness and pain and with a risk of social isolation and incommunication. Health care demands were referred to a better medical care. People declared needs in environmental hygiene, physical and mental health self care, food and jobs. Conclusions: Using this information, simple strategies could be implemented to cope with health care demands of the population