Abstract
Objective: To identify possible gaps in the puerperal follow-up by the health service and the search for care by women in the first postpartum year. Methods: Prospective cohort, with 310 women, in a municipality in Paraná, between July 2013 and March 2015. A statistical analysis of the data was performed using the Chi-square test and the Spearman coefficient. Results: Statistical significance was found between being ill (p ≤ 0.024); difficulty urinating (p ≤ 0.011); self-perception of depressive illness (p ≤ 0.007); performing actions to improve the signs and symptoms of depression (p ≤ 0.007); oncotic cytology (p ≤ 0.000); looking for care up to 42 days after delivery (p ≤ 0.031) and between 43 days and one year after delivery (p ≤ 0.012); satisfaction with multidisciplinary care (p ≤ 0.001), physician (p ≤ 0.000), nursing (p ≤ 0.000); and the variables. The Spearman coefficient showed a very strong correlation between conducting an early home puerperal review (RPPD) and scheduling a late puerperal review at UBS at RPP (r = 0.953). Conclusion: The gap identified in the puerperium was one of care abandonment and the search for care evidenced the mothers' attempt to meet their children's demand, to the detriment of their own.