Women's autonomy in child labor

contributions from a group of pregnant women

Abstract

Objective: identify how the group of pregnant women has contributed to the
strengthening of women's autonomy during labor and birth. Method: this is
documentary research with a qualitative approach. The papers used to support this
study are part of the database of the extension project of the Pregnant Women and
Pregnant Couples Group of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). The
inclusion criteria were the reports of women who addressed issues related to autonomy
in labor, from 2015 to 2017. Eighty-eight reports of postpartum women were analyzed,
selecting 21 who were under the study theme. Data collection was performed from
August to September 2017. Data analysis was performed through content analysis.
Results and discussion: the results of this study were presented in four categories: time
to go to maternity, the awareness of the midwifery process, experiencing childbirth
and the practices that interfere with women's autonomy. The pregnant group is an
effective and important prenatal complementary tool for the consolidation of female
autonomy in the parturition process. Final considerations: Thus, the dissemination
of groups of pregnant women is encouraged, as they stimulate the development of
human potentialities, making women to be perceived as the central subject of their
care, and becoming protagonists in their process of gestating and midwifery.