A comparative study was made to verify if the number of women who began prenatal care in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy differed significantly from that of those who began their care in the last trimester and, also, from those who received no prenatal care. The following variables were considered: reproductive risk as measured by Perkin's system of evaluation of reproductive risk, age, parity, medical history, birth interval, family income, schooling, place of birth, marital status, and attitude toward pregnancy. The results achieved led to the elaboration of an educational program for women receiving pre-and post-natal care.
Prenatal care; Pregnancy, risk; Health education