Educative actions in prenatal assistance: perceptions of pregnant women assisted at the Basic Health Unit of Maringá-PR

Abstract

The educational dimension is a fundamental and innovative part in prenatal assistance. The objective of the study was to know the perception of pregnant women users of the Basic Health Unit of Maringá/PR regarding health education and how it takes place. It was a qualitative study carried out with 25 pregnant women from five Basic Health Units of Maringá/PR. Data were collected in November 2009 through semi-structured interviews submitted to content analysis. Results indicated that great part of the women knows and identifies the health educative actions accomplished by the professionals. They attribute great importance to these actions, mainly for prevention of diseases and aggravating circumstances during pregnancy, and also to learn how to care for the baby after childbirth. It was concluded that there is still a gap in what concerns to the educational actions addressed to prenatal attendance in primary health services.

Descriptors: Health Education; Nursing; Pregnant Women; Primary Health Care.