This study is based on the supposition that the primary health care nurse can perform an important role in the construction of effective social control in the Brazilian Public Heatlh Care System (Sistema Único de Saúde). The objectives of this research are to analyze nurses' who work in primary public health care institutions in the city of São Paulo, Brazil conceptions and identify their activities of social control. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed through qualitative and quantitative methods. The principle conceptions were placed into four thematic categories: the users evaluating and constructing better health care; management is important but needs efficiency; it is necessary for people to learn to take part; and ant work: orienting the population in the construction of social control. The nurses related that they achieve many activities which seek social participation, but other actions must be implemented within basic care for the strengheening of social control in health care.
Formal social control; Health councils; Consumer participation; Health policy