Birth Plan and Safety of the Pregnant Woman from the Nurse's Perspective

Abstract

Background: The Birth Plan is an essential tool for obstetric care centered on the pregnant woman, reflecting her preferences and expectations during childbirth. This plan aims to personalize the experience, reduce unnecessary interventions and promote a safe and respectful environment. Aims: To investigate the role of the nurse as an inducer of the implementation of the birth plan, identify the knowledge and professional practice of nurses regarding the birth plan and highlight the nurses' consideration of the relationship between the implementation of the birth plan and patient safety. Methodology: Descriptive exploratory research with a quantitative approach, carried out with nurses from the Family Health Program and maternal and childcare in the metropolitan region of Curitiba, using an online questionnaire with Likert-type answers and an open-ended question, statistical analysis via R cran software Version 4.1.0. Results: Twenty-eight nurses participated, predominantly women (85.7%), with an average age between 42 and 50 years, and 39.3% with more than 15 years of experience. Among them, 33.3% had a specialization in Family Health and 22.2% in Gynecology and Obstetrics. The analysis showed that specialized training positively influences the perception of the importance of the Birth Plan in patient safety (P = .05). Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of continuous training and a collaborative approach to ensure quality obstetric care, respecting the autonomy of the pregnant woman and based on scientific evidence. Although there are challenges in practical implementation, promoting ongoing education and effective communication is crucial for safer and more woman-centered care.