Prenatal care and public policies for women’s health: Integrative review

• Autor(a) principal: Jorge, Herla Maria Furtado
• Data de Publicação: 2015
• Outros Autores: Hipólito, Maiza Claudia Vilela, Masson, Valéria Aparecida, Silva, Raimunda Magalhães
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por; eng
• Título da fonte: Revista Brasileira em Promoção da Saúde
• Texto Completo: https://ojs.unifor.br/RBPS/article/view/2864
• topic: Prenatal care; Primary care; Public health policies; Comprehensive Health Care to women ‘s health.; Atención prenatal; Atención primaria de salud; Políticas públicas de Salud; Atención integral de salud.; Assistência pré-natal; Atenção básica; Políticas públicas de saúde; Assistência integral à saúde da mulher.

Objective: To analyze evidence on prenatal care implemented in primary care, with focus on the perception of pregnant women, postpartum mothers and health professionals, and on the relationship with the public policies for women’s health. Methods: A survey was conducted in BDENF, LILACS and SciELO databases comprising the period of 2004 to 2013, through the descriptors “Prenatal care”, “Primary healthcare”, “Public policies for health”, “Comprehensive assistance to women’s health”, and including publications in Spanish and Portuguese language. Nineteen articles were selected, and their data was organized and analysed in light of the public policies. Results: It was observed that effective prenatal care favours the reduction in maternal mortality rates. The perception of pregnant and postpartum women about the prenatal care was discussed on the basis of the Ministry of Health guidelines, and is linked to the importance of the multidisciplinary team’s performance. Deficiencies were identified in the women’s knowledge with respect to dental care, breastfeeding guidance, and the participation of parents in education groups performed in the prenatal period. Nurses associated the prenatal assistance to beneficial effects, provided that pregnant women perform consultations and professionals are able to adopt effective monitoring in prenatal care. Conclusion: Quality prenatal care ensures the monitoring of pregnant women and prevents complications in childbirth and postpartum period, reflecting on the decrease in maternal and infant mortality.