The study aimed to estimate how the adult population (20 to 59 years) of Joaçaba, Southern Brazil, rates its health status. A cross-sectional study involving a representative sample (n=707) was carried out in 2006. The questionnaire surveyed sociodemographic conditions, restriction on daily activities, medical consultation, hospitalization and self-rated health. A hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis was performed. It was verified that 74.7% of the individuals perceived their health as good and 3.9% perceived it as poor/very poor. Being unemployed at the moment of the interview and ceasing to perform daily activities due to health problems significantly increased the chance of poor /very poor self-rated health.