[Impact of a community network of psychosocial support in perinatal health]

Determine the impact of a community intervention in perinatal health in, cities of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico. PATIENTS, MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY: A community intervention was designed including pregnant women (n = 1233), and finally 1148 (6.74% of loss) group intervention (n = 261) control group (n = 887). Intervention consisted of five visits prior to delivery during the 22nd, 26th, 30th, 34th and 38th weeks, as well as a visit during the first 8 days in puerperium, providing social and educational support. In regards to the control group, they were visited in two different occasions, week 22 and purperium, indicating them to continue with their regular care. The outcome variables were perinatal mortality, premature birth (< 37 weeks), low weight at birth (< 2500 grams) and perinatal morbidity.

Perinatal mortality rate was smaller in the intervention group 3.8 per 1000 born alive; perinatal mortality in the control group was 13.1. No statistically considerable difference was found in premature birth, in low weight at birth and in perinatal morbidity.

Community intervention provides a support to pregnant women under psychosocial risk factors; nevertheless, it does not contribute to considerably decrease premature birth, low weight at birth or perinatal complications.