Abstract
This paper reports on an anthropological investigation in Jardim Primavera, a low-income suburban and semi-rural community in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The RAP (rapid assessment procedures) methodology was employed to assess the primary health care systems being used in an attempt to understand their functions and logic and to assess the impact of primary health care in the community. Survey questions and open-ended questions of structured interviews were used to develop an ethnographic overview of the community, focusing on health problems, health-seeking behaviour, and the various healing processes known to and used by the community. Three groups were targeted: primary health care providers, households, and the community. In a community such as Jardim Primavera, a rapid assessment could give the impression that a lack of resources and the transition from a rural to an urban setting are basic problems that could be alleviated by education, project planning, and funds. As is pointed out, however, the problems are greater and much more complex.