Trabalho de parto: uma análise do grau de conhecimento das gestantes e sua correlação com variáveis sócio demográficas

Abstract

In the Brazilian obstetric scenario, the knowledge of pregnant women about the physiology of childbirth and the non-pharmacological methods of pain relief may be determinant for the choice of delivery type. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the degree of knowledge of pregnant women regarding the physiology of labor and non-pharmacological measures of pain relief during labor and to correlate the data found with the sociodemographic variables and their choice of type of delivery. The present study is an exploratory, transversal, quantitative research based on the application of an online questionnaire on the subject. The questionnaire is composed of 23 questions, two of numerical fill and the rest of multiple choice. A total of 326 women answered the questionnaire, and of these 41 were excluded because they are puerperal and not pregnant. The results of this study demonstrate that the percentage of 77.9% of the choice for vaginal delivery predominates over the cesarean preference. The most known pain relief methods were bathings (90.2%), massage (82.1%) and adoption of different postures (75.1%). In the stratification of data by choice of type of delivery declared by the pregnant woman, a greater knowledge of non-pharmacological measures of pain relief was observed among those who prefer vaginal delivery. It was observed that the majority of pregnant women are aware of free movement (88.8%) and free choice of birth position (89.5%). However, women who opted for vaginal delivery have more information about the time of onset of labor, about free movement and position. In addition, when women were divided by assistance form, women with more information on non-pharmacological methods of pain relief were those with private assistance. It was concluded that the method of pain relief with greater knowledge among pregnant women was the use of water, followed by massage. The pregnant women with a preference for vaginal delivery and with private assistance showed a greater knowledge about methods of pain relief, time of onset of labor, free movement and the most favorable position.