Banca de DEFESA: BRENDA LAVINIA CALIXTO DOS SANTOS GUEDES

DESCRIPTION OF THE MATERNAL HEALTH SERVICE OFFER

Maternal Health Services. Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation. Public policy.

In Brazil, despite international commitments to improve maternal and child care, the challenges are significant due to great social and geographic disparities, especially in the Northeast. Lack of access to information is one of the main barriers to improving maternal health in this region. Therefore, the present study sought to evaluate the organizational structure and potential service offering of the Maternal Care Network in the V health region of the State of Rio Grande do Norte based on the equipment and services available in the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde) ( SUS), through an evaluative study analyzing the potential for offering maternal health services in the V health region, from 2017 to 2021. Using data from that period, a significant increase in the number of ICU and intermediate ICU beds in the regional headquarters city. Santa Cruz, São Paulo do Potengi and Tangará were the municipalities with the highest incidence of congenital syphilis, while neonatal mortality rates exceeded post-neonatal mortality rates in several locations. Although no detailed data on maternal mortality was found, in 2021 Rio Grande do Norte recorded its highest rate. These results highlight the need for an in-depth analysis of the structure of Rede Cegonha in the region, emphasizing the importance of the interdependence of its elements to
improve the effectiveness of maternal and child health services. Therefore, despite some information gaps, the research results provide an understanding of the structure of Rede Cegonha in the V health region. They offer a comprehensive view of services, areas for improvement and changes in indicators over time. This information is essential for informed decisions aimed at continuously improving maternal and child health care in the region.