Surveillance prénatale dans six communes du district de Braga au Portugal

This article presents a study carried out in six communes in North-west Portugal in order to characterise and analyse prenatal care. The authors carried out semi-structured interviews on 100 women consulting the Primary Health Care units. All of the women claim that they were monitored during their pregnancy. We note that 42% were accompanied by an obstetrician/gynaecologist, 70% by their family doctor and only 30% by a midwife. This attests to the increasing preoccupation with prenatal care as of the first weeks of pregnancy, as shown by the fact that 66% of the women began before the 12th week and 73% of the women declare that they consulted between six and 10 times. In addition, an overconsumption of consultations was noted in 13% of the women since they were monitored simultaneously at the medical centre and at a doctor's office or private clinic. This double monitoring may be attributed to feelings of fear and anxiety due to a lack of confidence in Primary Health Care or by excessive concern by parents.