OBJECTIVE: This study sought to understand how social violence affects the work of family health teams in a basic health unit in Belo Horizonte - MG. METHODS: This is a qualitative case study. Data were collected by semistructured interviews with 12 individuals working in a basic health unit in Belo Horizonte - two nurses, five auxillary nurses, three ACS's, a doctor and a guard - interviews were then subjected to discourse analysis. RESULTS: The workers recognized the violent situations in the community where they work; they feel fear, insecurity, and adopt several defense mechanisms to reduce suffering. They also reported feeling hurt by their poor working conditions. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of health care is challenged by violence, and it and requires strategies for coping with the same within the unit by establishing links with other social institutions.
Violence; Patient care team; Family health; Working conditions