Quality of follow-up care for premature infants in primary health care: A cross-sectional study from nurses' perspective in Paraná state, Brazil

by Ivaneliza Simionato de Assis, Geisyelli Alderete, Regiane Bezerra Campos, Marcos Augusto Moraes Arcoverde, Debora Falleiros de Mello, Adriana Zilly, Rosane Meire Munhak Silva Background Prematurity affects approximately 10% of births worldwide and represents the leading cause of mortality in children under five years of age. The considerable variability in follow-up programs for premature infants internationally indicates the need for standardized protocols.

In Brazil, the discontinuity of follow-up care for children after hospital discharge constitutes a significant weakness, particularly in regions with socioeconomic disparities. Despite the essential role of Primary Health Care, there are gaps in evaluating the quality of follow-up care for premature infants from the perspective of health professionals, particularly nurses.

This study aimed to the perceived quality of follow-up care for premature children in Primary Health Care from the perspective of nurses working in Paraná state, Brazil. Methods Cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study with a quantitative approach, conducted with 463 nurses working in Primary Health Care between 2024 and 2025 in Brazil.