Factors associated with prenatal care and seeking assistance in public hospitals in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil.

Adequate prenatal care provides an opportunity for counseling and reducing the complications associated with pregnancy and delivery. Our objective was to describe the demographic, behavioral, and clinical profile of the pregnant women hospitalized at public maternity hospitals and to identify factors associated with six or more prenatal consultations in Vitória, Brazil. A cross-sectional study of 1,380 women was conducted in public maternity hospitals in Vitória, Brazil. Sixty-seven percent of participants had >or=6 prenatal consultations. Reasons for hospitalization were vaginal delivery (55.7%), cesarean section (32.9%), clinical treatment (7.7%), and abortion/miscarriage (3.7%). Having >or=9 years of schooling (odds ratio, OR = 1.8; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.1-3.1), being married (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2-2.9) and delivering at term (OR = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.6-8.2) were significantly independently associated with having >or=6 prenatal consultations. Although higher education, being married, and delivering at term were associated with >or=6 prenatal consultations in this population, the high rate of Cesarean sections demonstrates the need for ongoing educative strategies among health professionals.

[Prevalence of syphilis and HIV using rapid tests among parturients attended in public maternity hospitals in Vitória, State of Espírito Santo]. / Prevalência de sífilis e HIV utilizando testes rápidos em parturientes atendidas nas maternidades públicas de Vitória, Estado do Espírito Santo.

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of syphilis and HIV among parturients attended at public maternity hospitals in Vitória, Espírito Santo. Between January and May 2007, interviews were conducted to obtain demographic, behavioral and clinical data. The subjects were tested for HIV using a rapid test, ELISA and the indirect fluorescence assay; and for syphilis using a rapid test, VDRL and MHA-TP. A total of 1,380 women were included. Their mean age was 24.2 years (SD 6.1) and their mean schooling level was 8.5 years (SD 2.6). The HIV prevalence rate was 0.6% (95% CI: 0.2%-1.1%) and the syphilis rate was 0.4% (95% CI: 0.2%-0.9%). The rapid test for HIV was in agreement with ELISA and the indirect fluorescence assay in all cases. The rapid test for syphilis was positive in six women, but two cases were not confirmed by VDRL and MHA-TP. Among the 71 (5.1%) women who had not had antenatal care, the rapid test on one woman was positive for syphilis and two for HIV. The results show the importance of the rapid test for diagnosing syphilis and HIV because there are parturients without antenatal care or without access to test results and treatment during antenatal care.

Prevalência de sífilis e HIV utilizando testes rápidos em parturientes atendidas nas maternidades públicas de Vitória, Estado do Espírito Santo / Prevalence of syphilis and HIV using rapid tests among parturients attended in public maternity hospitals in Vitória, State of Espírito Santo

O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a prevalência de sífilis e HIV em parturientes atendidas nas maternidades públicas, Vitória, ES. No período de janeiro a maio 2007, elas responderam a entrevista contendo dados sócio-demográficos, comportamentais e clínicos e realizaram teste rápido, ELISA e imunofluorescência indireta para HIV; e teste rápido, VDRL e MHA-TP para sífilis. Um total de 1.380 parturientes foi incluído. A média de idade foi 24,2 (DP 6,1) anos e escolaridade 8,5 (DP 2,6) anos. A prevalência de HIV foi 0,6 por cento (IC95 por cento 0,2 por cento-1,1 por cento) e sífilis 0,4 por cento (IC95 por cento 0,2 por cento-0,9 por cento). O teste rápido para HIV foi concordante com o ELISA e a imunofluorescência indireta em todos os casos. O teste rápido para sífilis foi positivo em seis parturientes, sendo que dois resultados não foram confirmados pelo VDRL e MHA-TP. Entre 71 (5,1 por cento) parturientes que não realizaram pré-natal, o teste rápido para sífilis foi positivo em uma e o HIV em duas delas. Os resultados indicam a importância do teste rápido para o diagnóstico de sífilis e HIV, pois há parturientes que não realizam pré-natal ou que não tem acesso ao resultado ou ao tratamento durante o pré-natal.

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of syphilis and HIV among parturients attended at public maternity hospitals in Vitória, Espírito Santo. Between January and May 2007, interviews were conducted to obtain demographic, behavioral and clinical data. The subjects were tested for HIV using a rapid test, ELISA and the indirect fluorescence assay; and for syphilis using a rapid test, VDRL and MHA-TP. A total of 1,380 women were included. Their mean age was 24.2 years (SD 6.1) and their mean schooling level was 8.5 years (SD 2.6). The HIV prevalence rate was 0.6 percent (95 percent CI: 0.2 percent-1.1 percent) and the syphilis rate was 0.4 percent (95 percent CI: 0.2 percent-0.9 percent). The rapid test for HIV was in agreement with ELISA and the indirect fluorescence assay in all cases. The rapid test for syphilis was positive in six women, but two cases were not confirmed by VDRL and MHA-TP. Among the 71 (5.1 percent) women who had not had antenatal care, the rapid test on one woman was positive for syphilis and two for HIV. The results show the importance of the rapid test for diagnosing syphilis and HIV because there are parturients without antenatal care or without access to test results and treatment during antenatal care.