OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the implementation of child health care at two municipalities of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. METHODS: evaluative research, implementation analysis. It was considered as units of analysis: unit of the Family Health Program (FHP) with professionals trainned in the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Strategy (IMCI), unit without this training and conventional health care unit. The degree of implementation was achieved by case management and structure evaluation. Professional and users perceptions were appraised by interview and focus group discussion. RESULTS: degree of implementation satisfactory for FHP services, insatisfactory at the conventional unit in Municipality 1 and insatisfactory for units in Municipality 2. Professionals considered effectiveness of services and interpersonal relationship as good, but difficulties in the reference system and lack of integration with work group of conventional units. Users reported, good services effectiveness, but access and interpersonal relationship difficulties. CONCLUSIONS: deficiencies in case management and potentiality of the health care provided by nurse professional were determinant aspects for the variability on implementation degree. It was not possible to define the influence of the IMCI strategy. There is better professional and user satisfaction at FHP units, but problems of access and integrality of health care.
Program; evaluation; Services evaluation; Child health; Consumer satisfaction
