Eligibility and discontinuation of prenatal care in a freestanding birth center: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: to analyze the factors related to eligibility and discontinuation of prenatal care in a freestanding birth center (FBC).

Methods: a cross-sectional study, conducted at the Casa Angela FBC, SP, Brazil, involving 9,954 women registered between 2020-2022. Descriptive analysis was performed, including odds ratios.

Results: 43.6% were eligible for prenatal care and 62.9% had their care discontinued. A higher level of education, higher income, Asian/Indigenous ethnicity, and living with a partner increased the chance of eligibility; older maternal age, a higher number of pregnancies, brown/black skin, and private health insurance decreased this chance. Brown/black skin and Indigenous ethnicity increased the chance of prenatal care discontinuation; older maternal age, a higher number of pregnancies, higher education, higher income, Asian ethnicity, living with a partner, and private health insurance decreased this chance.

Conclusions: sociodemographic factors and clinical and obstetric history influence both the ineligibility and discontinuation of prenatal care in CPN.