Introduction:

Prenatal care is a health strategy that contributes to the reduction of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality; therefore, it is relevant to carry it out continuously, comprehensively, periodically and early.

Objective:

To determine the factors associated with the late start of prenatal care in a Callao Health Center, Peru.

Methods:

An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out at Alta Mar del Callao Health Center, Peru, from September to November 2019. A non-probability sample of 149 pregnant women was selected. They had a validated questionnaire. The variables under study were the sociodemographic, personal, obstetric and institutional factors, in addition to the late start of prenatal care.

Results:

No significant association was shown in the bivariate analysis the sociodemographic and institutional factors. While personal factors such as the history of violence (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.1-4.9) and the partner´s disinterest (OR = 3.7; 95% CI = 1.8- 7,7), as well as the obstetric factor, unplanned pregnancy (OR = 6.6; 95% CI = 2.7-16.4), were associated with the late start of prenatal care. In the multivariate analysis, the partner´s disinterest (OR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.2-6.1) and unplanned pregnancy (OR = 5.6; 95% CI = 2.2-14.3), kept the association.

Conclusions:

The partner´s disinterest and the unplanned pregnancy were associated with the late start of prenatal care, which increase the possibility of this event to occur.

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