Support actions undertaken for the woman by companions in public maternity hospitals

Abstract

Objective: to identify the support actions undertaken for the woman during labor, birth, cesarean section and the postpartum period. Method: a transversal study, undertaken in three public maternity hospitals, with a sample of 1,147 companions. The data were collected through interviews and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The support actions were classified in four dimensions: emotional, physical, informational and relating to intermediation. Results: the majority of interviewees were the partner/father of the baby (76.7%). In labor, birth and the postpartum period, the actions of emotional support - such as calming, encouraging and praising, were performed by more than 80.0% of the companions; informational support, by approximately 70.0%; and intermediation by fewer than 65.0% of them. In childbirth, the emphasis on physical support was observed in assisting with walking (84.4%), and in changing position (90.4%).Conclusion: the companions participate actively in the birth process, performing actions of support in the four dimensions. Emotional support is the most frequent, followed by physical and informational support, mainly during labor and birth. The results contribute to valuing the companion from the woman’s social network in the birth scenario and to the recognition of his/her role as a provider of support.

Expectativas e vivências no processo de parto: interacionismo simbólico

“…Communicating with women allows professionals to understand their mutual expectations, carry out good obstetric practices, and apply the principles of the Childbirth Humanization Policy (10) . Nurses must understand the expectations, needs, values, and beliefs of their patients in order to plan individualized care (19) . In this context, interacting with professionals, especially nurses, can become an important resource for constructing and validating meanings related to childbirth.…”

Violência institucional referida pelo acompanhante da parturiente em maternidades públicas

“…(4) Comumente, o acompanhante pertence à rede social da mulher e lhe provê conforto e segurança, contribuindo para o parto fisiológico e a sua satisfação. (10)(11)(12)(13)(14) No parto institucionalizado, o acompanhante é um avaliador externo dos cuidados presta-dos, capaz de perceber a VI mesclada aos protocolos assistenciais durante a internação da mulher para o parto. (15)(16)(17) Neste contexto, a investigação da VI contra a mulher durante a internação para o parto, a partir da perspectiva do acompanhante, contribui tanto como uma medida indireta quanto para a elaboração de estratégias de combate e prevenção do problema.…”

“…O tamanho de amostra calculado foi de 307 acompanhantes na Maternidade A, 349 na Maternidade B e 346 na Maternidade C, totalizando uma amostra mínima de 1.002 acompanhantes. (10) Não foram utilizados métodos probabilísticos específicos para a seleção dos sujeitos, por se tratar de uma amostra intencional. Do total de partos ocorridos nas maternidades estudadas durante a coleta de dados, foram identificados 4.299 acompanhantes, destes 4.004 eram elegíveis.…”

“…(18) Os dados coletados eram revisados diariamente, possibilitando a identificação e correção de inconsistências. (10) Após o encerramento da coleta de dados, replicou-se, por contato telefônico, parte da entrevista em uma amostra aleatória de 5% dos participantes de cada maternidade, para comparação de respostas das entrevistas. Não foram identificadas inconsistências.…”

Reasons for Women’s Autonomous Actions in the Childbirth Process: An Understanding Based on Social Phenomenology

“…[5][6] As a consequence, in the 70s, debates were strengthened to restore female protagonism in childbirth. 4,7 The movement achieved visibility and obtained responses from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health of Brazil, who made recommendations in order to enable the restoration of the physiology of childbirth. [8][9] Such recommendations had ideological strengthening aiming at promoting women's autonomy.…”