title: Implementation of the presence of companions during hospital admission for childbirth: data from the Birth in Brazil national survey.
abstract: Robust evidence of the benefits of continuous support during childbirth led to the recommendation that it should be offered for all women. In Brazil, it has been guaranteed by law since 2005, but scarce data on implementation is available. We aimed to estimate the frequency and associated socio-demographic, obstetric and institutional predictors of women having companionship during childbirth in the Birth in Brazil survey. Descriptive statistical analysis was done for the characterization of companions (at different moments of hospital stay), maternal and institutional factors; associations were investigated in bivariate and multivariate models. We found that 24.5% of women had no companion at all, 18.8% had continuous companionship and 56.7% had partial companionship. Independent predictors of having no or partial companionship at birth were: lower income and education, brown color of skin, using the public sector, multiparity, and vaginal delivery. Implementation of companionship was associated with having an appropriate environment, and clear institution al rules about women's rights to companionship.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carmen Simone Grilo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brasil.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: d'Orsi
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rosa Maria Soares Madeira
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.affiliation: Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
authors.forename: Jacqueline Alves
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Saúde da Mulher, da Criança e do Adolescente Fernandes Figueira, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcos Augusto Bastos
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Camilla A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schneck
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Sônia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lansky
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brasil.
authors.forename: Neuma Zamariano Fanaia
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, U.K.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rance
authors.affiliation: Division of Women's Health, King's College London, London, U.K.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sandall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001938:Brazil; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D009321:Natural Childbirth / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036801:Parturition; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult