Factors associated with low adherence to postpartum consultation: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Highlights

• Low adherence to postpartum consultations was associated with the quality of prenatal care provided by the Unified Health System.
• One of the factors for low adherence to postpartum consultations was associated with the lack of guidance during prenatal care.
• This study is relevant to public health, considering its impact on the formulation of strategies that encourage greater adherence to postpartum consultations.
• The continuity of the bond and postnatal care for women who were accompanied during pregnancy by primary care stands out as an aspect that needs to be improved.

Introduction: One of the attributes that attest to the effectiveness of postpartum care is the longitudinality of health care, which must be offered by Primary Health Care, an entity responsible for offering support and attention to maternal demands or women's health conditions. Objective: To investigate the frequency of postpartum consultations and the factors associated with low adherence to follow-up among postpartum women living in a municipality in the interior of the Northeast. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study, developed in the urban area of the municipality of Senhor do Bonfim, Bahia, Brazil, between June 2019 and January 2020. 97 women were surveyed, based on semi-structured interviews. The Chi-square/Fisher's Exact and Multiple Logistic Regression tests were used to perform data analysis. Results: There was 67% attendance at the postpartum consultation. Furthermore, an association was found between not having attended a postpartum consultation and the following variables: having attended prenatal care at the Basic Health Unit (OR: 0.08; p=0.002) and not having received guidance during prenatal care about the importance of returning for postpartum follow-up (OR: 0.22; p=0.004). Discussion: It is important to highlight that even with the existence of national protocols, states and municipalities can implement measures to improve postpartum care based on their respective realities. Conclusions: A low frequency of postpartum consultations was observed among the women surveyed, and the main reason for non-attendance was the difficulty in going to the consultation due to lack of time. In addition, the lack of continuity of care after childbirth among women who attended prenatal care at the SUS stands out.

How to cite this article: De Amorim, Ana Luísa Macedo; Fraga, Chalana Duarte de Sena; Rocha, Tacila Nogueira Azevedo; Lira, Kellen Karoline Almeida dos Santos; Andrade, Magna Santo. Factors associated with low adherence to postpartum consultation: a cross-sectional study. Revista Cuidarte. 2025;16(2): e4406.  https://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.4406