This article analyzes perceptions by people with HIV/AIDS towards five specialized units under the State Health Department, Rio de Janeiro, concerning the care provided there. The research was based on both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data from 228 questionnaires and 19 semi-structured interviews were analyzed. The results generally indicated a positive evaluation on the part of this group of health care users. One conclusion was that the positive evaluation was actually related to the quality of the services available to them. However, users seem to have low expectations toward the level of services public clinics generally provide.