Quality of maternal and child health care in different models of Primary Health Care

This study evaluated the quality of the maternal and child health care in two different models of Primary Health Care. Interviews were carried out by trained personnel with 1200 families randomly selected. Processes of assistance for maternal and child health care were evaluated by Family Health Strategy Teams and traditional health centers. In the evaluation of child health care, the precocity of the first consultation, the regular assessment of growth and development, the recommendations for accident prevention and prophylactic use of iron supplementation and vitamin A had been statistically associated with the model of the health care. Regarding prenatal health care the results showed statistically significant differences between the two models for breastfeeding counseling, nutritional recommendations and cervical preventive screening using Papanicolaou smear. For women health care out of pregnancy period, the results revealed that counseling for breasts auto-examination, preventive screening using Papanicolaou smear in last year and participation in family planning programs were associated with health Primary Health Care model. All the pointed differences had shown better performance of the Family Health Strategy Teams.