Lansky S, Oliveira BJ, Peixoto ER, Souza KV, Fernandes LM, Friche AA. The Senses of Birth intervention to decrease cesarean and prematurity rates in Brazil.
Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2019;
145:91-100. [PMID:
30671949 PMCID:
PMC7473078 DOI:
10.1002/ijgo.12765]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To increase knowledge and promote cultural change toward valuing normal birth, and to lower rates of cesarean and unnecessary interventions during childbirth in Brazil via the Senses of Birth (SoB) exhibition.
METHODS
The SoB intervention targeted 22 621 participants in three Brazilian cities in 2015. The effects of the exhibition in knowledge, perceptions, and preferences regarding childbirth were analyzed in a multi-method study. Pre- and post-exhibition survey responses of 17 501 (77.0%) visitors, 1947 (8.6%) non-pregnant women, and all pregnant women (n=1287) were collected at the exhibition. A follow-up survey was completed by 555 (43.0%) postpartum women who had participated at SoB while pregnant. Univariate analyses were used to compare before and after changes.
RESULTS
There was a significant increase in knowledge about normal birth, varying from 10.0% to 25.0% among general visitors (P<0.001) and 27.3% to 42.0% among pregnant women (P<0.001). Perceptions and preferences for normal birth also changed, reaching 83.0% of general visitors and 87.4% of pregnant women.
CONCLUSION
SoB was found to effectively improve knowledge about and preference for normal birth. Scaling-up the intervention might contribute to cultural change toward valuing normal birth, and might decrease the rate of unnecessary cesarean and premature birth in Brazil.
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