The objective of the present study is to discuss management and health. It investigates the contribution of family health and its role in local development in the context of economic recession and poverty increase in Portugal. Overall, 1,021 individuals were inquired, and the statistical treatment consisted of inferential, factor and regression analyses. The main result shows that the fact that an individual considers himself a healthy person depends on occupation, housing and on other determinants related to living conditions. A consistent factor analysis identified a set of important factors for the management of family health. The conclusion is that citizens' living and working conditions are related to their level of health. We identified the most important determinants to explain average life expectancy. They are reflected in economic downturn periods.
Health Economics; Public Health; Family and Community Medicine; Life Expectancy; Poverty