In three prenatal clinics in Latin America the average attendance time by pregnant women was 129 minutes but the average time spent with a doctor was only 8-10 minutes. In order to improve prenatal care, providers should analyse what happens during visits. Assessments should be made of the usefulness of the services offered and some thought should be given as to who might best provide them.
PIP: An evaluation of 3 prenatal care clinics in Mexico City, Panama City, and Caracas was conducted to examine the effect of long waiting times before appointments on a woman's decision to continue attending clinics. The clinic in Mexico City had more patients per day than did those in Panama City and Caracas (136 vs. 64 and 102). The average daily hours of operation were more or less equal (5 hours, 35 minutes to 6 hours, 31 minutes). There was a wide range in the average waiting time in the clinics (71-190 minutes), but the average time with clinic personnel was about the same (17-21 minutes). The average time patients had with physicians was short (8-10 minutes). Women with high-risk pregnancies were in the clinics for 81-147 minutes, with clinic personnel for 23-25 minutes, and with physicians for 11-15 minutes. The only slightly improved times for high-risk pregnancies suggested inadequate prenatal care. 34% and 47% of the time physicians spent at the clinics in Panama City and Caracas, respectively, consisted of 2-7 minute long interviews. Physical examinations generally lasted on average about 1 minute. They included measurement of uterine height, blood pressure, fetal heart rate, and vaginal and ankle edema examinations. These findings can help clinic staff identify major administrative and management problems and find ways to resolve them. The length of time with clinic personnel and physicians is not conducive to a sympathetic and considerate attitude. Health providers should encourage women to ask questions and express their views. All clinic staff should work to make the clinic atmosphere welcoming. These program managers should use evaluations to analyze what happens during prenatal care visits and to assess the value of the services provided. They can also use evaluations to determine who can best provide prenatal care services.