Abstract

SANCHEZ-PEREZ, HÉCTOR JAVIER; OCHOA-DIAZ LOPEZ, HÉCTOR; GARCIA-GIL, MARÍA DEL MAR  and  MARTIN-MATEO, MIGUEL. Social welfare and health services in the Fraylesca Region in Chiapas: The use of antenatal care services. Salud pública Méx [online]. 1997, vol.39, n.6, pp. 530-538. ISSN 0036-3634.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0036-36341997000600006.

Objective. To analyze the use of antenatal care services (ACS) in the Fraylesca Region of Chiapas, Mexico, and to identify groups with lower probability of receiving ACS. Material and methods. In 1994, a health survey was performed on a random sample of 1 100 households, which compiled sociodemographic information and on the use of ACS during the last pregnancy within the two years previous to the study (n= 297 women from 15 to 49 years of age). The groups with lower probability of receiving adequate ACS (5 or more visits) were identified with a log-linear model. Results. Forty-two percent of women received inadequate ACS (0 to 4 visits). Women with better socioeconomic status had higher probability of using ACS adequately than women with lower socioeconomic status: OR 2.47 (CI 95% 1.12-5.44). Conclusions. Results provide evidence of the need to improve the quality of ACS, to support the traditional midwives and to improve living conditions of the population.

Keywords : prenatal care; health services accessibility; quality of health care; midwives [practical]; Mexico.