Assistance to prenatal care, labor and post-labor in the city of Campina Grande, Paraíba

Abstract Objectives To characterize the assistance to prenatal care, labor and post-partum, taking into account sociodemographic variables in Campina Grande, Paraíba. Methods Cross-sectional study performed during the 2010 Immunization Campaign. The survey collected information about sociodemographic characteristics and health care of 633 mothers of children younger than one year in Campina Grande. We considered indicators about prenatal care, regarding to labor and post-partum. Results The prenatal adequacy was of 79.2% according to the number of appointment, and of 55.5% according to the time of the first appointment. Only 24.3% of deliveries occurred in the assigned maternity hospital; 20.8% parturient peregrinated; 48.0% of deliveries were by C-section and 31.1% of women had the right of a companion during childbirth. Higher maternal schooling showed significant association with the first prenatal appointment before 3 months, cesarean delivery and the presence of a companion in the post-partum. C-section was less frequent for the beneficiaries of Bolsa Família and black-skinned mothers. Conclusions Health service inefficiencies were evidenced, since the majority of women were not admitted in the referral maternity hospital and the right to have a companion during labor was not granted.