[The Brazilian Ministry of Health's Program for Humanization of Prenatal and Childbirth Care: preliminary results]

Cad Saude Publica. 2004 Sep-Oct;20(5):1281-9. doi: 10.1590/s0102-311x2004000500022. Epub 2004 Oct 13.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

This article evaluates the implementation of the Brazilian Ministry of Health's Program for Humanization of Prenatal and Childbirth Care using data generated by the SISPRENATAL/DATASUS database from the Unified National Health System. From its beginning in June 2000 until December 2002, 3,983 municipalities joined the Program, and 71% of participating municipalities (3,183) reported their health care activities, constituting a database with 720,871 women. Nearly 20% of the women had six or more prenatal visits, and approximately half of them had the postpartum follow-up visit and required lab tests performed in 2002. In addition, 41% of the women had been vaccinated against tetanus. The number of HIV antibody tests was twice that of syphilis during the two-year period. Only a small percentage of women (2% in 2001 and 5% in 2002) received the entire set of prenatal and childbirth care services. The low percentages attest to the need for permanent evaluation aimed at improving quality of care and guaranteeing both high-quality maternal and perinatal results and the inalienable right of women to safe care and well-being during pregnancy and delivery.

MeSH terms

  • Brazil
  • Female
  • Health Plan Implementation / standards*
  • Humanism*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Maternal Health Services / standards*
  • Maternal Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • National Health Programs / standards*
  • National Health Programs / statistics & numerical data
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / standards*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Care / standards
  • Program Evaluation