[Prenatal care in an university hospital: evaluating the process]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prenatal care process referring to the Prenatal Assistance to Low Risk Pregnant Women Program of the University Hospital of Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil. It was made a selection of quality criteria which evaluate the precocity in the process and the adequacy in the number of consultation during prenatal period, measured by the Humanization Program of Prenatal and Birth of the Health Ministry and the adequacy on the use of the prenatal care. The study showed that 44.5% of pregnant women started late the prenatal care suggest of the low offer and search to better quality care, which is manifested by spontaneous transference of pregnant women to other services to the program. The prenatal consultations were confirmed and the results showed a mean of 9.8 consultations per pregnant woman--higher than the recommended national parameters. The indicators used and developed to the evaluation of process still present some obstacles to the organizational access and need to define strategies which guarantee this fundamental policy of the Brazilian Unified Health System.