EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF PRENATAL CARE ON NEWBORN HEALTH: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) plays a fundamental role in promoting maternal health and mitigating adverse neonatal outcomes, acting strategically in the prevention and early detection of maternal-infant health complications. Objectives: To describe the impact of the quality and number of prenatal visits on neonatal outcomes in light of scientific evidence. Methods: A systematic review conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A digital search was performed in April 2026 across the PubMed, MEDLINE, and LILACS databases for primary studies published between 2015 and 2026 in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Data selection and extraction were performed independently by two reviewers via the Rayyan platform. Results: Seventeen primary studies were included, most of which were observational. The analysis showed that inadequate prenatal care doubles the risk of early neonatal mortality. Starting follow-up in the first trimester was associated with better Apgar scores and a reduction in low birth weight. Qualified assistance, combining the frequency of visits with full protocol execution and normative examinations, proved to be the primary determinant for reducing prematurity and morbidity-mortality. Conclusions: Prenatal care is the central modifiable determinant for improving neonatal indicators. Technical quality and early initiation of care take precedence over the purely numerical goal of consultations, highlighting the urgent need for public policies focused on equity and healthcare qualification.