OBJECTIVES: to assess the effectiveness of maternal-fetal HIV transmission prevention programs at the pre-natal care stage. METHODS:a descriptive study was held in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, from May to July 1998, in 27 locations of six Sanitary Districts: 19 Health Centers, two Maternity Clinics and six Family Health Programs (PSF). The study focused on observation and interviews of managers and technical teams. Their work was followed for at least two shifts in randomly selected weekdays, totaling 214 hours. The 355 pregnant women present filled a questionnaire requiring the following information: age, obstetrics history, number of medical vi-sits, accessibility and orientation received. RESULTS: unmet demand was found in 63,0% of the institutions. Only 41,6% of pregnant women being followed had their present medical visit scheduled by the service following the previous one (PSF). In relation to sexually transmitted diseases: all prescribed the Lues Test and 67,0% summoned sexual partners in case of positive testing. The anti-HIV test was not universally offered and counseling was not provided. Only 26,7% of the doctors having identified pregnant women at risk of AIDS prescribed the test and 19,8% of the pregnant women received guidance for sexually transmissible diseases. CONCLUSIONS: institutional vulnerability in the execution of program measures and the broad range of health requirements for women in the reproductive age group emphasizes the need of organizing pre-natal care.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Prenatal care; Outcome and process assessment; Program evaluation
