Descriptive Analysis of Prenatal Care in Belém do Pará Based on the New Performance Indicators of the Previne Brasil Program

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the effectiveness of prenatal care in Primary Health Care in the municipality of Belém do Pará, from 2020 to 2023, using the new performance indicators of the Previne Brasil Program. Methods: This is a descriptive and retrospective study, with both quantitative and qualitative approaches, conducted over a four-year time series using data from SISAB (Health Information System for Primary Care) and SISAPS (Primary Health Care Information System). Results: The indicators revealed significant variations over the analyzed period. Regarding the proportion of pregnant women with at least six prenatal consultations, the lowest rate was recorded in the first two four-month periods of 2020 (4%), contrasting with the highest result in the last four-month period of 2023 (21%). For the indicator related to testing for syphilis and HIV, there was a fluctuation between the lowest value in the first four-month period of 2021 (12%) and the highest in the third four-month period of 2023 (58%). Concerning dental care, the lowest percentages occurred in some four-month periods of 2020 and 2021 (4%), while the highest were recorded in the last two four-month periods of 2023 (34%). Conclusion: The observed rates indicated outcomes below expectations, revealing gaps in prenatal care in the capital of Pará. The required strategies must overcome the identified barriers, involving clinical interventions, improvements in infrastructure, and resource management, thereby enhancing the indicators and enabling increased federal funding, resulting in direct benefits to the health of the pregnant population.