OBJECTIVES: to determine the efficiency of educational methods in preventing maternal-fetal AIDS transmission through communication among users and health services providers. METHODS: exploratory study, part of the survey on pre-natal care, accomplished in 19 clinics, two maternity hospitals and six family health units performed by the Health Secretariat of the city of Recife, from May to July, 1998. Procedures were observed, technical teams were interviewed and questionnaires applied to 355 women being seen, of these, 81 participated of the survey. RESULTS: healthcare providers do not perform counseling, even when informing on HIV testing (48,1%). Education work is focused on furnishing information during consultation, for, collective activities in the units doing them (48,1%) do not occur in all of the pre-natal care schedules. Education based on strategic rationality underestimates the value of women's informed choice of which only 11,1% used condoms o a systematic way. CONCLUSIONS: insufficient education during pre-natal care and a "technocratic monologue" prevailing on the relationship between users and healthcare providers have a negative impact on the vulnerability of the female population and their children.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Prenatal care; Communication; Health education
