The challenge of the reference and counter-reference system in the prenatal assistance to pregnant women with infectious diseases

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of infectious diseases, such as syphilis, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and hepatitis B and C, in pregnant women who undertook their prenatal care in thirteen basic health units (BHU) in Sao Paulo city. The efficiency of the reference and counter-reference system in such prenatal infectious diseases was evaluated considering the medical recordings of the final result of the pregnancy and the vertical transmission rates of these diseases. It consists of an epidemiologic study whose observations were based on the notes of the prenatal medical and nurse records of pregnant women who had infectious diseases susceptible to vertical transmission and final infectious status registers of their concepts. Women's syphilis prevalence was 0.86%, HIV and Hepatitis B was 0.22% and Hepatitis C was 0.36%. It's possible to conclude that there is no register of the reference and counter-reference system of these infectious diseases analyzed at the thirteen basic health units of the south-east region of Sao Paulo city evaluated in 2005. This lack of register makes it impossible to know the preventive measures taken and the vertical transmission rates. Making the professionals and the Health Coordination authorities aware of the importance of the dynamic of the prenatal attendance is necessary.