Assessment of prenatal care performed in primary care: a cross-sectional study linked to a pregnancy cohort

Abstract

Objectives: to assess the adequacy of prenatal care in primary care, to classify prenatal care according to the parameters of adequacy and to determine the factors associated with prenatal care in the pregnant women studied. Method: an analytical cross-sectional study of 205 pregnant women in ten basic health units in São Luís, MA. The qualitative variables were presented using absolute and percentage frequencies. Results: In the age variable, there was a predominance of the 21-30 age group (49.44%). In the race/color variable, the highest prevalence was for pregnant women who declared themselves brown/other 99 (55.62%), with a lower prevalence for 6 consultations performed. With regard to the government benefits variable, the highest prevalence, 110 (61.80%), was for pregnant women who received them. Regarding marital status, 76.97% were pregnant women who had a partner, with a lower prevalence for 6 consultations, 137 (76.97%). As for schooling, there was a predominance of pregnant women with a high school education (68.18%). With regard to the start of prenatal care, 66.85% started prenatal care. With regard to the prescription of iron after starting prenatal care, there was a higher prevalence of pregnant women who used it (69.66%). Prevalence was also higher among pregnant women who underwent the following tests: cervical cancer screening, 147 (82.58%), ABO-RH system 129 (72.47%), complete blood count 121 (68.75%), and fasting blood glucose in the first trimester, 107 (60.11%). As for the anti-HIV test, the highest prevalence was for pregnant women who had not undergone the test, 103 (57.87%). With regard to the venereal disease research laboratory, the highest prevalence was among pregnant women who had undergone the test, 120 (67.42%). The highest prevalence of abnormal sediment elements was observed in pregnant women who underwent the test, 122 (68.54%). As for influenza vaccination among pregnant women, the highest prevalence was among those who had not been vaccinated 104 (58.43%). The highest prevalence of previous tetanus vaccination was among pregnant women who had not received the vaccine, 108 (60.67%). Hepatitis B vaccination was more prevalent among pregnant women who had received the vaccine 95 (53.37%). Pregnant women with no symptoms, with a diagnosis and without a negative diagnosis for Covid-19 were more prevalent, 117 (65.73%). Conclusion: The study allowed us to analyze that the quality of prenatal care in the health units where the study was carried out was unsatisfactory for some indicators, since the prevalence was less than 6 consultations.