ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES FOR INTERVENTION IN MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Abstract

Objective: To assess health care received by pregnant women during antenatal period and delivery in the municipality of Rio Grande, RS, Southern Brazil, and to establish priority of intervention. Methods: In 2007, standardized questionnaire was applied to all mothers from the municipality about their demographic characteristics, socioeconomic level of their families and kind of care received during antenatal period and delivery. Results: Among 2.557 children studied, 98,5% were born alive, 20% of their mothers were teenagers, 72% of them performed at least six medical consultation in the period and 74% started antenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy; 90% accomplished all basic lab tests, however only half of them performed gynecologic exams and pap smears; 52% of all infants were attended by a pediatrician during delivery, 79% of them were born using public health sector, 9% were born with low birth weight and 16% were premature (<37 weeks). Conclusions: Prenatal coverage was high, but needs to be increased; a clinical examination such as Pap smear was lower than level expected. Health care during pregnancy and delivery should be improved in the municipality.