title: [The companion in the obstetrics centre of a university hospital in southern Brazil].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify the prevalence of companions, their type of bond with the women and the justifications for their absence in the obstetrics centre of a university hospital in Porto Alegre (RS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative, cross-sectional study carried out with 385 females from August to November, 2012. The data were subjected to descriptive analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all the companions, 97.1% were present during labour; 90.6% were present during delivery; 28.6% throughout postpartum care; and 87.1% during the first care procedures of the newborn baby. Most of the companions were the women's partners. The most frequently mentioned reason for their absence during the postpartum recovery period was "not allowed" (57.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The healthcare institution observes the legal provisions for the presence of a companion, but there is still the need to build awareness among healthcare professionals on the importance of companions during the moments following childbirth, and to adapt the location to accommodate the companions who will support the women.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem Materno-Infantil, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Annelise de Carvalho
authors.initials: Ade C
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Instituto Municipal de Estratégia de Saúde da Família, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Camila Martinez da
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem Materno-Infantil, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Helga Geremias
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Gouveia
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem Materno-Infantil, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Cláudia Junqueira
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Armellini
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem Materno-Infantil, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Virginia Leismann
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Moretto
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Bruna Alibio
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Moraes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult