Prenatal care from puerperal women's point of view: from medicalization to the fragmentation of care

Abstract

This qualitative and exploratory-descriptive study aimed to reveal the perceptions of puerperal women about prenatal service care. The data collected through semi-structured interviews were submitted to thematic analysis and consisted of the opinions of eight puerperal women. The access, booking of consultations and provision of priority services in case of complications were highlighted as qualifiers of the prenatal care. The study revealed limitations concerning the comprehensive care, humanization, sheltering, bond absence, indiscriminate use of technologies and unnecessary interventions, which can produce or enhance vulnerabilities. The results indicate the necessity of refocusing attention to the prenatal period and birth, under the longitudinality of care aspect, both in public and private services; pact of actions between the related sectors to promote women's health is necessary to support the formulation of more equitable and positive public policies for comprehensive care perspective.