We aimed to describe indicators of maternal and child health in this communities in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. This is cross-sectional, population-based study. Data were collected in households randomly sampled including 411 women aged 18 to 49 years and 234 children aged less than five years. Most families (73.7%) reported a monthly income less than minimum wage and nearly half of respondents (49.2%) had less than four years of schooling. Accesses to drinking water, sewage and garbage collection were limited. Most women (52.1%) reported the first pregnancy as adolescents and 35% reported four or more pregnancies. Preventive examinations for cervical cancer showed irregular and 15.1% of women had never been screened In relation to pregnancy and childbirth, 23.5% of women reported fewer than six prenatal consultations, 37.2 % reported onset of prenatal care after the first trimester and 44.4% did attended a puerperal consultation. With regard to children, 15% had low birth weight, 9.4% had chronic health problems and 40.6% were taking no vitamin A. The results highlight critical conditions access to public services, including access to care health.
maternal and child health; vulnerable groups; African continental ancestry group; health inequalities