[Access to care for women during childbirth in university hospitals: characterization and associated factors].

This study aimed to analyze the socioeconomic, demographic, obstetric, neonatal and healthcare factors associated with access to care by women during childbirth. It was a transversal study conducted on puerperal women in two university hospitals in the state of Paraná, Brazil in 2011. Access to childbirth was analyzed according to socioeconomic, demographic, obstetric, neonatal and healthcare variables. The puerperal women were interviewed during hospitalization, in the first 72 hours after birth. The data was analyzed by relative frequencies and calculation of the chi2, considering a significant association when p < or = 0.05. The overall rate of women referred to university hospitals was 17.7%. A significant associated was found between access to childbirth and residing in other cities; premature birth; underweight newborns; complications in the current pregnancy and the use of ambulances. It was concluded that the associated factors found in this study suggest that pregnant women with some risk required referral to university hospitals.