Abstract

CIARI JR., Cyro; SANTOS, Jair L. F.  and  ALMEIDA, Pedro Augusto Marcondes de. Quantitative evaluation of the activities of prenatal services. Rev. Saúde Pública [online]. 1972, vol.6, n.4, pp. 361-370. ISSN 0034-8910.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89101972000400005.

Six items are proposed in order to obtain a quantitative evaluation of the activities in the prenatal services. Indexes of phyhidans' activities and degree of protection atainned by patients are: 1) the number of consults by doctor-hour/year; 2) the number of possible consults; 3) the mean number of consults by pregnants; 4) the ratio between registrations and consults (other than the first) by month; 5) mean age of pregnancy at the time of registration. These data are examined in relation to the quality of the services, i. e., doctor's presence, nurses, internation facilities, laboratory, prescriptions, courses and social care. It seems that those indexes exhibit not only the quantity of services offered but as well, their quality. Ten prenatal services were observed during a period of 4 years. Their activities were evaluated through the indexes mentioned, and a low productivity was found in their majority, with too high number of vacant hours and a small number of consults. The assumed relationship between quality of services and a higher prenatal center attendance is not clear, unless where the service offer is intensive.

Keywords : Prenatal care; Pregnancy.