PRENATAL CARE IN THE STATE OF PERNAMBUCO: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INQUIRIES

• Main Author: Cruz, Rachel Sá Barreto Luna Callou
• Publication Date: 2020
• Other Authors: Caminha, Maria de Fátima Costa, Cavalcanti, Sandra Hipólito, Silva, Suzana Lins da, Melo, Silvia Pereira da Silva de Carvalho, Batista Filho, Malaquias Batista
• Format: Article
• Language: por
• Source: Revista Baiana de Saúde Pública (Online)
• Download full: https://rbsp.sesab.ba.gov.br/index.php/rbsp/article/view/3109
• topic: Cuidado pré-natal; Saúde da mulher; Saúde da criança; Pré-natal; Atención prenatal; Salud de la mujer; Salud del niño; Prenatal care; Women’s health; Child health

Prenatal care stands out as an essential factor in the protection and prevention of adverse events on the health of the mother and child, allowing the identification and clinical management of timely interventions on potential risk factors for health complications. Our article aims at describing and comparing the main characteristics of prenatal care in 1997 and 2006 in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. A population-based, observational, cross-sectional, study was conducted using secondary data from 1997 and 2007 extracted from the State Research on Health and Research Databases (II and III). In 2006, prenatal was considered satisfactory if it met the three minimum recommendations of the Ministry of Health: starting prenatal care until the 16th week of pregnancy, provisioning of six or more consultations, and offering guidance on the reasons and practice of breastfeeding. Prenatal care increased significantly in 2006 (17.1%) compared to 1997. Prenatal care in 2006 was more satisfying for women that were 20 to 35 years old (60.7%), white (60.0%); with greater schooling (71.8%), income equal to or greater than minimum wage (75.8%), with two to three children (63.1%), and that resided in the Recife Metropolitan Region (68.3%). Prenatal care was less satisfying for women that worked (54.7%) and from the rural area (49.1%, p < 0.001). Despite the expansion of prenatal coverage, improving its quality is essential to promote holistic health, especially in poor communities, where risk factors are prevalent.