PICTURE OF MIDWIFERY PRACTICES AT A PUBLIC MATERNITY HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective: identify the midwifery practices adopted during delivery and birth care. Method: cross-sectional, analytic study, undertaken at a public maternity in Aracaju - Sergipe, between November 2015 and February 2016, involving 373 postpartum women with gestational age ≥ 37 weeks, who experienced at least 30 minutes of prepartum. The chi-squared and Fisher’s exact test were applied. Results: the following level A midwifery practices were offered: lukewarm bath 109 (29.2%), massage 62 (16.6%), Swiss ball 50 (13.4%), walking 223 (59.8%), skin-to-skin contact 250 (66.7%) and the presence of a companion 89 (23.9%). Level B and D practices were executed, such as oxytocin 236 (63.3%), amniotomy 171 (45.8%), episiotomy 51 (19.8%) and Kristeller’s 129 (34.6%). Conclusion: this study reveals the need to adapt the ambience and implement the best practices unrestrictedly in order to guarantee safe delivery and birth care and to contribute to the training of new professionals.

Keywords

• Healthcare
• Humanized birth
• Professional practice
• Maternal-infant nursing
• Obstetric nursing