[Evaluation of prenatal care in a micro-regional health system in the State of Ceará, Brazil].

This article presents an analysis of prenatal care provided in a micro-regional health system in the State of Ceará, Brazil. The objectives were to analyze the population covered by the Family Health Program (FHP) teams; to evaluate data from the Basic Health Care Information System and the Live Birth Information System; and to establish a profile of medical and nursing services provided during prenatal care. Data were collected from the fourth health micro-region in the town of Baturité and the Ceará State Health Department in May-June 2001, through review of patient records, free observations, and searches in the information systems. Despite the excellent population coverage by FHP teams, resulting in improved access, increased numbers of prenatal visits, improved vaccine coverage, and early diagnosis of complications of pregnancies, the impact of these measures need to be assessed in terms of the real improvement in the women s quality of life. A protocol also needs to be followed by doctors and nurses throughout the course of prenatal care, besides guaranteeing medical consultations as an integral part of the program.