Brazil's National Health Care System (Sistema Único de Saúde) advocates integrality as a guideline for its health care practices. Despite advances in public health, one notes difficulties in exercising integrality in the daily practice of health services in Brazil. This research aimed to better understand care practices in a Family Health Strategy health care team and their relationship with integrality. It is a qualitative and descriptive study. Data was collected using the research strategies of participant observation, interviews, and documental investigation and then submitted to thematic analysis. The following meanings of integrality were found: as a perception of the users' different dimensions and complexities; as an articulation of the ways of care; as an identification and meeting of health needs; as effort from the health care team to produce health; as care to specific groups. Data analysis affirms the need to construct new practices geared to reorienting the care model in order to make it possible to exercise integrality.
Comprehensive health care; Family health; Patient care team