Health visitors provide their preventive services aiming at the preservation and promotion of the health of families in a defined geographical area (health visitor district) and their role in preventive care is crucial for primary care. Each family shall be entitled to this service. In general, care offered by health visitors starts at the time of pregnancy and continues after the birth of the child, and ends at school age. Contact between the competent health visitor and the person receiving care usually takes place at the time of the first pregnancy. This takes place in the consultation room of the health visitor assigned based on home address/place of residence.
After taking the anamnesis, pregnant women receive their “pregnancy booklet” thus initiating the care services by the health visitor. Care is provided according to a personalized plan based on mutual cooperation. Later, the health visitors visit the family regularly at pre-agreed times, in the home of the family. During this period, the health visitor provides assistance in establishing an adequate lifestyle and preparing for the reception of the child, the delivery and breastfeeding. After the birth of the baby, the health visitor monitors the physical, intellectual and emotional development of the child, provides advice based on the age of the child about nutrition and gives information about the importance of vaccination.
During health visitor consultations, they complete the screenings based on the age of the child (at the age of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and annually between the ages of 1 and 6). Health visitors provide social services as well. They screen and monitor socially vulnerable people and try to help families encountering difficult situations. We recommend the affected families to contact their health visitor.