Evaluation of hospital resources for perinatal assistance in Brazil

Objective To verify the adequacy of hospital resources for perinatal care in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil in 1996. Methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted encompassing all the 28 maternity/hospitals in the city of Belo Horizonte, capital of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A model of evaluation denominated "Niveis de Complexidade e Seguranca em Potencial de Unidades Perinatais de Hospitais-Maternidade" [Levels of Complexity and Potential Safety in Maternity-Hospitals]. This model is based on the evaluation of three major areas in the hospital: general structure, perinatal clinical infrastructure and resources available in perinatal units. Two scores involving these three areas were created. When evaluating low risk perinatal care, the score may sum to a total of 1,000 points. On the other hand, when high to medium perinatal risk care is considered, the score may sum to 2,000 points. Hosptals that scored more than 500 points were classified in two levels: 1-A and 1-B (for low risk); and six levels 1-A through III-B (for medium/high risk). Results Five hospitals were classified as level 0 according to the low risk score, that is, they were not considered adequate to assist any delivery. When the medium/high risk score was employed, a total of seven hospitals were considered inadequate to assist any delivery. Conclusions This evaluation model was capable of classifying hospitals according to available infra-structure for perinatal care.