Características do atendimento pré-natal na rede de atenção básica de saúde de Goiânia, Goiás

Abstract

Prenatal care comprises a set of care actions and procedures aimed to preserve the health of pregnant women and fetuses. This descriptive-exploratory survey analyzes the characteristics of prenatal care from the perspective of women cared for in the Primary Health Care network in Goiania, GO, Brazil. Data were collected by 110 women which were interviewed from march to December, 2010. Descriptive statistics was carried out about a socio-demographic and economic characteristics, obstetric profiles and the prenatal care characteristics. In relation to the: 60.9% were mixed race individuals; 77.3% had a stable partner; 58.2% were between 21 to 30 years old, that is, in productive age; 49.1% reported four to seven years of schooling; 50.9% were Catholics; 45.5% paid rent; 62.7% lived with spouses and children in areas with basic sanitation and few trees; 56.4% were homemakers; the partner of 48.2% was the breadwinner. In terms of obstetric profile, 74.5% had low risk pregnancies and 56.9% had vaginal births. Among the most reported morbidities were urinary infection (27.3%) and hypertension disorders of pregnancy (20.9%). A total of 87.3% of the pregnant women were cared for in the primary health care network; 39.1% scheduled appointments in the health service itself and 70% chose units close to their residences. Prenatal care was considered appropriate according to Kesnner s index modified by Takeda only for 35% of the women. In relation to the recommended laboratory exams: 60.9% of the interviewees were submitted to all the exams, including a laboratory exam that detects diseases with no evident clinical manifestations; ultrasound scans were performed in 41.8% only. The tetanus toxoid vaccine in two doses or its reinforcement was applied in 70%. A total of 33.6% of the women participated in educational activities. The analysis concerning the characteristics of the prenatal care indicated that 53.6% of the women were cared for by physicians and 45.4% by both physicians and nurses. It revealed the need to reorganize care provided by nurses since care delivery is still centered on physicians in most of the primary health care units in Goiania, which does not favor the multidisciplinary team. Women reported the need to improve primary care even though the network provides large prenatal care coverage. Therefore, humanized care and the establishment of new strategies need to be reconsidered to enable qualification of care provided in the primary health care network in Goiania, Goiás, especially in relation to early access of pregnant women to prenatal care so that birth and postpartum occur normally.