Regional Disparities in Access to Prenatal Care in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Public Health Data
Keywords:
Prenatal Care, Access to healthcare, Health Care Disparities, Maternal Health, BrazilAbstract
Background: Adequate prenatal care is essential for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. In Brazil, significant progress has been made in prenatal care coverage and quality; however, disparities persist. Previous studies indicate that access to comprehensive prenatal care is uneven, with inequalities related to socioeconomic status, race, and geographic location. Despite universal health coverage through the Sistema Único de Saúde, access to adequate prenatal services remains a challenge. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using publicly available data from DATASUS to analyse prenatal consultations across Brazil’s geographic regions from 2022 to 2024. Adequate prenatal care was defined as seven or more visits. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed, and regional differences were assessed using the chi-square test. Results: A total of 7,347,562 live births were analysed. Overall, 78.4% of women attended seven or more prenatal visits. Regional disparities were evident: the North had the lowest proportion (~64%), followed by the Northeast (~76%), while the Southeast (~82%) and South (~85%) had higher proportions. The Centre-West showed intermediate values (~77%). Differences were statistically significant (χ² = 161,184; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Despite improvements in prenatal care coverage, significant regional inequalities persist in Brazil. These findings highlight the need for targeted strategies and improved resource allocation to ensure equitable access to quality prenatal care.Downloads
Published
2026-08-18
How to Cite
Facco Machado, G. (2026). Regional Disparities in Access to Prenatal Care in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Public Health Data. International Journal of Medical Students. Retrieved from https://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/4513
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Copyright (c) 2026 Giuliana Facco Machado
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