OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the structure of Brazilian National Health Service (SUS) maternity hospitals in the State of Rio de Janeiro. METHODS: a normative cross-sectional evaluation was carried out of selected SUS maternity hospitals in the year 2005. Sixty-seven maternity hospitals were selected as a sample for reasons of convenience. Hospitals were observed and interviews conducted with health service managers and health workers. Various aspects of the structure of these services were examined, taking as a point of reference the norms provided by the Ministry of Health and outlined in the literature. These aspects included: installations, equipment, health team, training of health workers and availability of clinical guidelines. RESULTS: the presence of the structural requirements under evaluation varied according to the level of complexity, being less frequently found in maternity hospitals undertaking lower complexity procedures. The physical structure, availability of clinical guidelines and the presence of trained health workers in these services were more adequate than the training offered. CONCLUSIONS: there is a need to invest more in professional training, to extend the availability of clinical guidelines, and to improve the physical structure of hospitals as a way of providing better quality perinatal care in conformity with national regulations.
Perinatal care; Structure of services; Practice guidelines; Quality of health care
