Aim. The purpose of this study was to compare the health care quality for pregnant women in the public and private health care system. Material and methods. The study included 80 women who differed in sociodemographic factors and the obstetric situation. The research was a performed by means of a personal survey and the data collected from the documentation of a pregnancy period. Socio-demographic factors (age, marital status, place of residence, financial status) and the patient’s obstetric record (number of pregnancies and births, the course of pregnancy) were taken into consideration. We analyzed the amount of preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic services and the number of appointments at gynecological clinics in relation to pregnant women. Results. The amount of appointments and services provided for women are higher in the private sector than in the public sector. Women using private health care are mostly primiparas. Usually, they are 30 years old or older, from big cities, with a good material condition and showing abnormal pregnancy. Conclusions. The quality of health, which is measured by the amount of appointments and given services are higher in the private sector than in the public one. It would make every possible effort to ensure that women, without regard to the socio-economic status, would use public healthcare as safe as those who use private healthcare without bearing additional costs.

Key words: pregnant women, public and private healthcare, quality of care.