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Evaluative research into the capability of decentralized management of epidemiological vigilance (EV) was conducted in the operational, organizational and sustainable dimensions in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The quantitative approach was used in the construction of a baseline, with primary data obtained through an online questionnaire answered by thirty-eight municipal EV managers. In the qualitative approach to analyze the context and assess the management capability of municipalities in two case studies, techniques adapted to the analysis of discursive practices were used. This was done through semi-structured interviews with managers of regional and municipal government, health workers and representatives of the municipal health council. The case studies showed that the municipality with enhanced management capability is that in which the manager has the greatest potential of using the resources of his position, in addition to his ability to control, negotiate and coordinate with other actors. Due to decentralization of EV, considering the shared nature of management between the three spheres of government, there is a marked variation in the management capability of municipalities, determined by social, economic, political inequalities and management mechanisms adopted.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the decentralization of Epidemiologic Surveillance actions to the Family Health Program in a city in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The research was conducted as a case study, using adapted techniques of thematic and evaluative analysis. In face of the need to adopt a model for this analysis, it was decided to adopt the political model of implantation analysis. The primary data were collected in semi-structured interviews with managers of the local Health Department and the Family Health Team and the secondary data through document analysis. The study demonstrated that Epidemiologic Surveillance is understood in three ways: as a kind of medical police action; as an instrument of surveillance focused on the control of transmissible diseases and as surveillance addressing the risk of damages. As refers to the capacity of intervention, although mainly directed to disease detection and control, the performance of the Family Health Team was found positive. We conclude that it is possible to decentralize Epidemiologic Surveillance to the Family Health Program but the effective implantation of this process will depend on the support of health managers and professionals and on a political project assuming the decentralization of epidemiologic survey a strategy towards reorganization of the healthcare system in the city.