MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH INDICATORS IN A HEALTH REGION WITH QUILOMBOLA COMMUNITIES IN GOIÁS

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate maternal and child indicators in the Northeast I Region of Goiás, in the period from 2011 to 2021. Methods: This is an ecological study, with secondary data collection from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS). Descriptive and analytical statistics of the regional maternal and child indicators were performed, with comparison between race/color groups. This health region is composed of three municipalities that have a large concentration of quilombola communities. Results: A worsening of maternal and child indicators was observed in black women, with higher percentages of post-term births and children with low birth weight, when compared to white and brown women. Only 54.56% of pregnant women had 6 or more prenatal visits, which was probably the cause of a high prevalence of congenital syphilis in the region. The low adherence was also noted in the puerperium and childcare consultations. Conclusions: The lack of adherence of pregnant women and mothers to prenatal, puerperium, and childcare appointments was the main failure observed in the region. The lack of a link between health teams and SUS users, the high prevalence of poor families, and residents of rural areas in the region hinder access to health services and continuity of care, leading to this low adherence to services.