Pregnant women profile assisted in nursing's prenatal consultations at a basic health unit

Abstract

Objective: To identify the socioeconomic and behavioral profile of pregnant women cared for in prenatal nursing consultations at a basic health unit in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Method: Quantitative, documental and retrospective research. Eighty-eight nursing records were collected from medical data of pregnant women cared for from January 2009 to November 2010. Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis. Results: The predominance was: young pregnant women, married, housewives, with low level of education; family incomes of up to two minimum wages; basic sanitation available; no consumption of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs; diversified diet; restricted physical activity; regular dental care; need for reinforcement of tetanus immunity; first prenatal consult with less than 20 weeks; and planned pregnancy. Conclusion: The identification of pregnant women's characteristics allows identifying their main needs. This could be used for promotion of health by improving prenatal care.