Characteristics, diseases and injuries of a maternal and child population assisted during the perinatal phase: research performed in a high complexity hospital of the Public Health System

estudo em um hospital terciário do SUS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: this study aims to characterize the socio demographic aspects of a maternal and child population assisted during the perinatal phase, as well as the diseases and injuries most prevalent in these patients. METHODS: this is a transversal study with a quantitative approach, in which 421 files from the obstetrics service of a public high complexity hospital of Fortaleza, Ceará, were analyzed. It took place between January, 2005 and December, 2006. The following variables were studied: socioeconomic features (age, marital status, education level and profession); obstetric features (type of delivery, prenatal assistance and complications). RESULTS: 30.2% of the patients were 20 to 25 years old, 56.8% were single, 45.7% had elementary school level and 56.9% were housewives. Regarding obstetrics features, 21.3% of the patients had had at least 6 prenatal appointments and 54.5% of the deliveries were cesarean type. The main maternal complication was preeclampsia (43.4%) and the main injury among newborns was the respiratory distress syndrome (64.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Diseases and injuries among mothers and babies are of medium and high risk and lack qualified assistance. It is essential to enhance human and material resources to meet the needs of this population.