Self-perceived evaluation of prenatal care: A hierarchical analysis by the users of primary health care services in Brazil

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the factors associated with positive self-perceived evaluation of prenatal care among users of Primary Health Care (PHC). Methods: the analytical cross-sectional study was carried out with secondary data from the 3rd Module of the 2nd cycle (2013 / 2014) of the External Evaluation of the Improvement of Access and Quality of Primary Care Program (PMAQ-AB – Portuguese acronym), collected from users in the Basic Health Units (BHU) that joined the PMAQ-AB in Brazil. The hierarchical analysis was performed using a theoretical model and logistic regression was performed between the self-perceived evaluation (positive-very good/good or negative-regular/poor/very bad) and the sociodemographic characteristics, prenatal care and health service evaluation (p< 0.05). Results: the sample consisted of 9,922 women and 81.7% rated care as very good/good. In the final model, positive evaluation was associated to women with incomplete higher education or over (OR=1.05; CI95%=1.01-1.09; p=0.010), who underwent the VDRL exam (OR=1.07; CI95%=1.01-1.14; p=0.020), consultation with the same professional (OR=1.07; CI95%=1.02-1.12; p=0.010), received guidance on the gynecological preventive exam (OR=1.05; CI95%=1.01-1.08; p=0.007), believed that guidance helped with pregnancy and child care (OR=1.24; CI95%=1.05-1.46; p=0.012), evaluated the BHU structure as very good/good (OR=1.19; CI95%=:1.14-1.24; p<0.001) and would not change BHU or team (OR=1.62; CI95%=1.48-1.68; p<0.001). Conclusion: the positive evaluation of prenatal care was associated with sociodemographic factors, prenatal care and health service evaluation.