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The integration of the birth companion in the public health services in Santa Catarina, Brazilª ª Research supported by the National Research Council (CNPq) through concession of a Productivity in research grant level 2, 2010 Bid invitation, process number: 305817/2010-8.

This is a descriptive, quantitative study which aims to describe the integration of the parturient woman's companion of choice during labor, delivery and immediate postpartum in health services linked to the Unified Health System (SUS) providing childbirth assistance in Santa Catarina, Brazil and to identify the aspects which facilitate or hinder this process. The population consisted of 138 state services. Data was collected from May 2010 to June 2011 through a questionnaire sent to the directors and by telephone contact, subsequently analyzed by descriptive statistics. Of the 135 departments surveyed, 54.8% reported that they always allow the companion to be present, 32.6% allowed them sometimes, 11.9% never allowed the companion and 0.7% did not respond. Most of the services allow the companion to be present. However, in some services this practice is still implemented with restrictions, as the parturient woman's choice is not respected and the presence of the companion is prevented during the birth.

Health Services; Humanized Delivery; Patient's companion; Obstetric Nursing


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