[Prenatal care in public and private health services: a population-based survey in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil]. / Assistência pré-natal nos serviços públicos e privados de saúde: estudo transversal de base populacional em Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.

This study aimed to evaluate public and private prenatal care for women in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Women who gave birth at the two local maternity hospitals from January 1 to December 31, 2010, answered a standardized questionnaire. The interview sites in the public sector were primary health care units with and without the Family Health Strategy (FHS) and outpatient clinics; the private sector included clinics operated by health plans and private physicians' offices. The chi-square test was used to compare proportions. The response rate was 97.2% (2,395 out of 2,464). Among the 23 target variables and indicators, seven showed a clear advantage for mothers who had received prenatal care under the FHS and six for health plan clinics and private offices. Four variables showed virtually universal coverage at all five study sites. Prenatal care showed better coverage for pregnant women treated in the private sector. Pregnant women treated under the FHS showed similar coverage to that in the private sector.

Assistência pré-natal nos serviços públicos e privados de saúde: estudo transversal de base populacional em Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil / Prenatal care in public and private health services: a population-based survey in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

Este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a assistência recebida durante o pré-natal nos setores público e privado em Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Aplicou-se questionário padronizado a todas as mães residentes nesse município, cujos filhos nasceram nas duas únicas maternidades locais entre 1º de janeiro e 31 de dezembro de 2010. Os locais de consultas avaliados no setor público foram as unidades básicas de saúde (UBS) com e sem Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) e os ambulatórios; no setor privado foram as clínicas de convênio e os consultórios particulares. Utilizou-se o teste qui-quadrado para comparar proporções. A taxa de respondentes foi de 97,2% (2.395 em 2.464). Dentre as 23 variáveis e indicadores avaliados nesses locais, sete mostraram nítida vantagem para mães que consultaram na ESF e seis para mães atendidas em clínica de convênio e consultório particular. Quatro variáveis mostraram cobertura praticamente universal nos cinco locais estudados. A assistência pré-natal mostrou melhor cobertura para gestantes atendidas no setor privado. Gestantes atendidas na ESF apresentaram cobertura semelhante àquela observada no setor privado.

This study aimed to evaluate public and private prenatal care for women in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Women who gave birth at the two local maternity hospitals from January 1 to December 31, 2010, answered a standardized questionnaire. The interview sites in the public sector were primary health care units with and without the Family Health Strategy (FHS) and outpatient clinics; the private sector included clinics operated by health plans and private physicians' offices. The chi-square test was used to compare proportions. The response rate was 97.2% (2,395 out of 2,464). Among the 23 target variables and indicators, seven showed a clear advantage for mothers who had received prenatal care under the FHS and six for health plan clinics and private offices. Four variables showed virtually universal coverage at all five study sites. Prenatal care showed better coverage for pregnant women treated in the private sector. Pregnant women treated under the FHS showed similar coverage to that in the private sector.