Obstetric practices adopted by a public maternity in rio branco-AC

Abstract

Objective: To identify the obstetric practices used in childbirth and birth care in a public maternity hospital in Rio Branco, Acre. Method: Descriptive exploratory cross-sectional study with 460 women who had vaginal deliveries and their new borns from November 2013 to February 2014. Data was collected through interviews, medical records and documentation related to the new born and submitted to descriptive and statistical analysis. Results: Demonstrably useful practices: Presence of a companion 400 (87%); use of a light diet 349 (75.9%); freedom of position and movement 374 (81.3); use of partograph forms in 246 (53.5%); pain relief 360 (78.3%) and skin to skin contact 433 (94.1%). Inappropriate practices: Amniotomy 249 (54.2%). Clearly harmful practices: oxytocin infusion 87 (39%), horizontal position during fetal expulsion 435 (94.6%), Kristeller maneuver in the expulsionperiod 71 (15.5%).Conclusion: The obstetrical model currently used can be abandoned, but this involves support to the training of health professionals.