[Management of basic health units in municipalities of different size: profile and management instruments]

To identify the characteristics of managers and their use of management instruments in primary care and to analyze differences in these features among municipalities of different sizes.

The present cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at 108 basic health units from 21 municipalities in northern Paraná, Brazil. The data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire during the second half of 2010.

Most managers had graduate degrees and were female and nurses. The managers from the small municipalities were younger, their payment was lower, and they had less work experience. The use of management instruments was expressive for both the organization and work management; however, the instruments were used less in the small municipalities.

The managers were committed to their role; it is recommended that policies and guidance should be formulated at the federal and state levels to support small municipalities.