Atuação da equipe de enfermagem na assistência às gestantes e às puérperas em unidades de atenção primária à saúde do município de Alfenas/MG/Brasil

Abstract

The role of nursing in quality care to pregnant and postpartum women directly reflects in reduced rates of maternal and neonatal morbidity and contributes to the promotion of safe maternity. This study investigated the reality of the performance of the nursing staff in providing assistance to pregnant and postpartum women in the city of Alfenas-MG. Aim: to verify the care provided by nursing staff to pregnant and postpartum women in the Primary Units in Alfenas city. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study quantitative approach performed in four Primary Care Units of the city, one Basic Health Unit and three Family Health Unit. The study population was composed by nine nursing professionals of whom five were nurses and four nursing techniques. The data was collected through interviews and systematic observation non-participant, the actions developed by the nursing staff during 134 visits to antenatal consultations and 34 postpartum. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the variables. Results: The nursing staff who worked on assisting pregnant and postpartum women in the units studied during the data collection was composed of nurses (55.5%) and nursing techniques (44.5%) with mean age of 45.3 years ,77,7% married and 100% matched with experience of one or more children. All nurses had expertise in areas about women's health / gynecology. The average hours worked per week was 35.6 hours, 77.7% work in just a job, 80% underwent a course or training in prenatal and have average of 10 years of experience in this tour. No professional has participated in a scientific event in recent years. In all units surveyed nursing techniques are responsible for the pre-consultation and 80% of nurses actively participated in the prenatal and postpartum. Some fundamental skills in obstetrics left to be developed, or were performed incompletely. The lack of institutional protocols hinder the actions of professionals since they are essential to support qualified assistance. Attention puerperal not occur in a systematic manner. Conclusions: the actions taken by the nursing staff in caring for prenatal and postpartum proved discrete. The study reveals the need for investment in training of nursing professionals who work in this city in order to strengthen their professional identity enabling the implementation of care established by the Global Initiative for Safe Maternity.