Quality prenatal care and neonatal morbidity and mortality: an integrative review

Abstract

Objective: To relate efficient and properly adhered prenatal care, with the reduction of neonatal morbidity and mortality rates. Thus, evaluating the relevance of early diagnosis and treatment during pregnancy. Methods: The methodological approach of this work proposes a compilation of bibliographic research with a qualitative approach and descriptive character through an integrative literature review in the National Library of Medicine, Virtual Health Library and Directory of Open Access Journals databases. The descriptors used were "Prenatal", "Early Neonatal Mortality" and "prevention". Inclusion criteria were journal article articles, clinical trials, clinical trials, randomized or non-randomized, case-control studies, cohort study, free access, published in English, Portuguese, Spanish, from 2012 to 2022. Results: Prenatal care is essential in the prevention of maternal and fetal pathologies. In this way, it significantly reduces countless risk factors for pregnant women, being proven, that the lack of prenatal care has been the main cause of preventable neonatal deaths. Final considerations: In short, the quality of services offered to pregnant women during prenatal care, should aim at care and conduct favorable to the proper development of pregnancy, with a humanized environment and welcoming professionals.