Adequacy process of prenatal care according to the criteria of Humanizing of Prenatal Care and Childbirth Program and Stork Network - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the adequacy of the process of prenatal care according to the
parameters of the Program for the Humanization of Prenatal Care (PHPN) and of the
procedures provided by the Stork Network of Unified Health System (SUS) in the
microregion of Espirito Santo state, Brazil.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012-2013 by interviewing and analyzing
the records of 742 women during the postpartum period and of their newborns in 7
hospitals in the region chosen for the research. The information was collected,
processed and analyzed by the χ² and Fisher’s exact test to determine
the difference in proportion between the criteria adopted by the PHPN and the
Stork Network and the place of residence, family income and type of coverage of
prenatal service. The level of significance was set at 5%.

RESULTS:

The parameters showing the lowest adequacy rate were quick tests and repeated
exams, with frequencies around 10 and 30%, respectively, in addition to
educational activities (57.9%) and tetanus immunization (58.7%). In contrast, risk
management (92.6%) and the fasting plasma glucose test (91.3%) showed the best
results. Adequacy was 7.4% for the PHPN, 0.4% for the Stork Network, with respect
to the parameters of normal risk pregnancies, and 0 for high risk pregnancies.
There was a significant difference between puerperae according to housing location
regarding the execution of serology for syphilis (VDRL), anti-HIV and repeated
fasting glucose tests, and monthly income influenced the execution of blood
type/Rh factor tests, VDRL, hematocrit and anti-HIV test.

CONCLUSION:

Prenatal care in the SUS proved to be inadequate regarding the procedures
required by the PHPN and Stork Network in the micro-region of a state in
southeastern Brazil, especially for women of lower income, PACS users and
residents of rural areas.