The aim of this study was to analyze delivery care by nurses in six public hospitals of the East zone in the municipality of São Paulo. A descriptive-exploratory study was carried out from October 2006 to June 2007, with nursing leaders and 38 nurses who answered the questionnaire, indicating frequency they performed delivery care related activities, as well as any possible obstacles or difficulties to exercise their functions. The results showed that nurses had no means to operationalize their work due to institutional and organization barriers that they had to deal with. It was concluded that to completely perform their work regarding delivery care, nurses must count with more favorable structures and to strengthen their professional identity, thus assuming greater qualification and power.
Obstetrical nursing; Public policies; Maternal mortality; Perinatal mortality; Humanization of assistance
