Implemented in May 2025, the Maternal and Child Outpatient Clinic is approaching one year of operation with significant results
Pregnancy awakens an intense mix of emotions, especially when the journey is marked by the challenges of a high-risk pregnancy. In Rio Branco, this specialized care has been guaranteed by the Maternal and Child Outpatient Clinic of Policlínica Barral y Barral, structured by Rio Branco City Hall, through the Municipal Health Department, as a strategic reinforcement of the women’s and children’s health care network.
The Maternal and Child Outpatient Clinic at Policlínica Barral y Barral is a strategic reinforcement of the women’s and children’s health care network. (Photo: Átilas Moura/Secom)
Implemented in May 2025 to respond to a pent-up demand of more than 350 pregnant women who needed specialized monitoring, the outpatient clinic is approaching one year of operation with significant results. Between May 2025 and the first week of February 2026, the service has already provided 3,153 specialized services, consolidating itself as a reference in multidisciplinary care for intermediate and high-risk pregnant women, postpartum women and children in early childhood.
For the municipal secretary of Health, Rennan Biths, the results achieved by the Maternal and Child Clinic reflect the commitment of Mayor Tião Bocalom’s management to care for women and children, especially those who experience more complex pregnancies.
“The implementation of the Maternal and Child Outpatient Clinic was a strategic decision to guarantee specialized, humanized and continuous care for high-risk pregnant women”, highlighted Secretary Rennan Biths. (Photo: Átilas Moura/Secom)
“Since the beginning of Mayor Tião Bocalom’s administration, maternal and child health has been treated as a priority. The implementation of the Maternal and Child Outpatient Clinic was a strategic decision to guarantee specialized, humanized and continuous care for high-risk pregnant women, reducing complications and strengthening the health care network. These more than 3,100 visits demonstrate the municipal management’s commitment to caring for those who need it most, with responsibility and commitment to life”, highlighted the secretary.
It is in this context that women like Raíssa Fraga find welcome, care and security. At nine months of pregnancy, after experiencing a previous pregnancy loss, Raíssa follows a new path of care with continuous monitoring at the outpatient clinic.
At nine months pregnant, Raíssa follows a new path of care with continuous monitoring at the outpatient clinic. (Photo: Átilas Moura/Secom)
“In 2023, I experienced a very significant loss: I discovered an advanced pregnancy while I was being treated for pneumonia, and my baby was already lifeless. The experience left a trauma and a lot of fear. Now, in the second pregnancy, I underwent all the follow-up from the beginning. I discovered placental abruption, gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, and received all the support at Barral y Barral, with constant monitoring from Dr. Andressa”, he reported.
“I had moments of insecurity, especially between five and six months, but thankfully things progressed well”, reported Raíssa. (Photo: Átilas Moura/Secom)
From Raíssa’s report, it is possible to see that the biggest fear was not just the clinical diagnosis, but the fear of reliving the pain of loss. Close to giving birth, she added:
“I had moments of insecurity, especially between five and six months, but thankfully things progressed well, with diabetes and blood pressure under control. Today, at nine months, I’m at my penultimate appointment and being taken to the maternity ward for final exams.”
Just like Raíssa, other pregnant women arrive at the Maternal and Child Outpatient Clinic referred by the Basic Health Units (UBSs). (Photo: Átilas Moura/Secom)
Just like Raíssa, other pregnant women arrive at the Maternal and Child Outpatient Clinic referred by Basic Health Units (UBSs), after identifying risk factors. This is the case of Rosenir Rodrigues, 37 years old, seven months pregnant, referred from the Sobral unit.
“I discovered the pregnancy at three months, I was shocked. As it was not planned and happened very close to the other pregnancy, everything became more delicate. Doctor Cássia monitors everything very carefully: she orders exams, does an ultrasound, monitors the growth and listens closely to the baby’s heart every month”, she said.
Pregnant women undergo risk classification according to the Ministry of Health protocol, which uses clinical criteria and colors ranging from green to red. (Photo: Átilas Moura/Secom)
The Maternal and Child Outpatient Clinic functions as an important support facility for Primary Care and medium complexity assistance in the municipality. Pregnant women undergo risk classification according to the Ministry of Health protocol, which uses clinical criteria and colors ranging from green to red.
Of the total number of services provided, 1,578 were in high-risk obstetrics, the central axis of the service. (Photo: Átilas Moura/Secom)
The assistance data demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposal. Of the total number of services provided, 1,578 were in high-risk obstetrics, the central axis of the service. There were also 773 consultations in pelvic physiotherapy, 271 in pediatrics, 226 nursing consultations aimed at intermediate risk, in addition to 255 consultations in nutrition and 50 in psychology, ensuring comprehensive care and multidisciplinary action.
Clinical symptoms, such as edema and changes in sleep, are checked, in addition to measuring vital signs, in addition to other tests. (Photo: Secom)
The outpatient nurse, Naiane Dourado, explains that the service begins with a complete assessment of the pregnant woman. Clinical symptoms, such as edema and changes in sleep, are checked, in addition to measuring vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, saturation and blood glucose, especially in patients with diabetes.
High-risk prenatal care carried out at the outpatient clinic invests in continuous monitoring, with periodic exams, nutritional guidance, encouragement of safe physical activity and attention to mental health, allowing early interventions and reducing complications.
The obstetrician highlights that the service is essential to prevent clinical worsening during pregnancy. (Photo: Átilas Moura/Secom)
Obstetrician Kássia do Vale highlights that the service is essential to prevent clinical worsening during pregnancy. According to her, the early identification of conditions such as diabetes and gestational hypertension, combined with the work of a multidisciplinary team, contributes to safer outcomes for mothers and babies.
The Maternal and Child Clinic expands access to specialized prenatal care at the municipal level and contributes to the prevention of avoidable hospitalizations and maternal and child deaths. (Photo: Jefferson Carvalho/Secom)
Parameters from the Ministry of Health indicate that around 15% of pregnancies can evolve into high-risk situations, which reinforces the need for specialized services integrated into the basic network. In this context, the Maternal and Child Clinic expands access to specialized prenatal care at the municipal level and contributes to the prevention of avoidable hospitalizations and maternal and child deaths.
In 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that approximately 300,000 women die every year as a result of complications during pregnancy or childbirth, in addition to around 2 million babies who do not survive beyond 20 weeks of gestation or during birth. In Brazil, ensuring comprehensive care for pregnant women is part of guidelines followed by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), which works to strengthen and monitor public policies aimed at maternal and child health.
In Brazil, ensuring comprehensive care for pregnant women is part of guidelines followed by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF). (Photo: Átilas Moura/Secom)
In addition to the direct impact on assistance, the outpatient clinic strengthens the organization of the municipal health network, ensuring that pregnant women identified in the UBSs as being at intermediate or high risk are referred in a timely manner for specialized monitoring.
The outpatient clinic ensures that pregnant women identified at the UBSs as being at intermediate or high risk are referred in a timely manner for specialized monitoring. (Photo: Jefferson Carvalho/Secom)
Behind the numbers are stories like Raíssa Fraga’s, which summarize the role of high-risk prenatal care in guaranteeing care, protection and dignity. After a loss marked by pain, specialized monitoring allowed not only control of clinical conditions, but also the rebuilding of confidence in a new outcome.
In Rio Branco, the specialized support offered by the Maternal and Child Outpatient Clinic reaffirms the City Hall’s commitment to the expansion and qualification of health services, consolidating itself as a fundamental strategy to protect the lives of mothers and babies and improve maternal and child health indicators in the capital.
