Strategies for changes in primary health care: evaluating the pilot implementation of the Project on Young Men's Health in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

To improve young men's adherence to a teenage health care program, a project was developed and implemented with a pilot phase in primary health centers in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This article presents the results of an evaluation performed at the end of the first year, aimed at identifying characteristics in the health care services that play a strategic role for change, as well as those that contribute to resistance. The methodology was based on participatory planning techniques and rapid assessment procedures ( RAP). Considering the principles of the program's practices, a matrix was developed with five categories: implementation of the project's activities, interdisciplinary health team, health care organization, inter-sector cooperation, and user participation. Self-assessment workshops were held with the local teams. Despite good awareness among the health professionals, the project's results varied between health centers. Over-centralization and lack of flexibility appear to be related to lower capacity to incorporate new practices. Meanwhile, the health centers where specific strategies were observed also showed more successful results.