The necessity to evaluate social programs as a mechanism of feedback to their managers has increased. The present study aimed to evaluate public health services (Family Health Program-PSF and Centers of Reference) in two Northeastern capitals of Brazil based on the beliefs of their users and of those from private polyclinics. Participants answered the "PSF Users Evaluation Scale". The organizational structure and preventive care were positively evaluated by the users of the three services. Infrastructure, consumption materials, medical attendance and PSF-community linkage were positively evaluated only by the public health system users. Although the users of the Centers of Reference complained about the guiding delay, they evaluated those centers positively. The polyclinics were preferred by their users because they were considered more resolute.
program evaluation; public health services; beliefs
