Public health’s bearing: characterization of parturient women in Mendoza, Argentina

Dar a luz en salud pública: caracterización de mujeres parturientas de Mendoza, Argentina

Objective: characterize a sample of parturient women from Mendoza (Argentina), attending to personal and contextual variables. Materials and methods: it was used a quantitative approach with no experimental-transversal design and descriptive scope. Non-probabilistic-intentional sample, consisting of 73 women who were interviewed 48 hours after they had given birth in a public hospital in the City of Mendoza. The data was collected through a scale of demographic and socioeconomic factors and a medical data form. Different descriptive statistics were obtained. Results: there were some adolescent pregnancies, moderate consumption of alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy, predominantly low education levels, high unemployment rate, in some cases, supplemented by government financial aid and a predominance of the traditional family structure. The percentage of cesarean deliveries was less than 30% and gestational age, weight, height, pulse, head circumference and Apgar score of newborns were expected. Conclusions: actions and policies are required to guarantee the reproductive rights of women who use the public health system during pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium. It is also considered essential to work on the prevention of adolescent pregnancy, a greater and better record in the medical books and the improvement of building conditions. At the same time, it is encouraged to continue with the current practices that have boosted to reduce the maternal and neonatal mortality rate.