REPERCUSSIONS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON WOMEN’S CARE DURING LABOR AND PARTURITION: CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the health care provided to women in peripartum and parturition during the pandemic period of COVID-19. Method: analytical and cross-sectional study, conducted with 404 puerperal women from three maternity hospitals in Paraná - Brazil, between the months of September-December/2021. Data were analyzed by chi-square test (p<0.05) to verify the association. Results: care was taken to prevent COVID-19 in peripartum and parturition (physical distance 89.4%, use of mask 96.8%, respiratory etiquette 74.3%, hand hygiene 97.8%), presence of a companion (97.2%), respect for the choice of parturition route (71%) and skin-to-skin contact (70.2%). A high rate of early hospitalization (dilation between 0-3 cm), low offer of non-pharmacological methods for pain relief and low incentive to breastfeeding were observed. Conclusion: the study contributes to improve health actions about the natural physiology of parturition and to strengthen the rights in parturition, even in vulnerable pandemic periods.