OBJECTIVES: to assess the adequacy of prenatal care and the satisfaction and gestational risks of pregnant women with a history of premature deliveries. METHODS: a cross-sectional study with 1239 pregnant women, 259 with a history of premature deliveries when being attended by the Brazilian National Health Service (SUS) in RJ in 2007/2008. Demographic and socio-economic information, the obstetric history, adequacy of prenatal care and satisfaction with prenatal care were variables gathered using interviews and the prenatal records. The χ² test was used to compare the group with the history of premature deliveries with the groups with low risk or no history of premature delivery. RESULTS: there were no differences in terms of the adequacy of prenatal health care among pregnant women with a history of premature deliveries compared with those with low gestational risk. Women were dissatisfied with the waiting times for consultations, the opening times of health units and the explanations given by health workers. CONCLUSIONS: a history of premature delivery did not improve the quality of prenatal care for these pregnant women. The health units experienced a number of problems, in the view of the women, regarding their functioning. The explanations given by health workers regarding the risk of premature delivery did not meet the expectations of the women.
Infant; premature; Infant; low birth weight; Prenatal care; Health evaluation
