Prenatal care in the public network: nurses' actions and pregnant women's perceptions

Abstract

Introduction: A healthy pregnancy for the mother-child binomial requires quality prenatal care, anchored in public health policies and, since the pregnancy is low-risk, it can be monitored by a nurse. The objectives were: To identify the actions performed by nurses during low-risk prenatal care in the Unified Health System; To understand the importance of the nursing profession and its care for pregnant women undergoing prenatal care; and To describe the perception of pregnant women regarding the care received by nurses during low-risk prenatal care. Materials and Methods: descriptive, quantitative-qualitative research, conducted with 12 women who were undergoing prenatal consultations in public health units. Results: The ideal number of prenatal consultations was not visualized, but it was possible to identify actions recommended in the public health sphere. Pregnant women considered the consultations with nurses as advantageous and received important information for their health. However, some guidelines were identified as insufficient, such as: breastfeeding, mental health, reproductive planning and aspects of the postpartum period. Discussion: nurses who are able to perform prenatal care should promote satisfaction during consultations, increasing the confidence of pregnant women. Final considerations: the study contributes to government entities encouraging and facilitating specialization/residency courses in obstetrics so that nurses are increasingly qualified to provide maternal-fetal health care, expanding access to services and improving existing deficiencies.

Keywords: Pregnancy; Prenatal care; Nurse; Obstetric Nursing.