Humanized childbirth: adherence of health personnel to the recommendations of the World Health Organization according to the opinion of patients

Objective: To evaluate the adherence of the health personnel of the Clínica Maternidad Santa Ana, of the Venezuelan Institute of Social Security, to the recommendations of the World Health Organization on humanized childbirth for a positive birth experience, according to the opinion of patients who come for obstetric care between September and November 2022. Methods: Observational, prospective, descriptive, exploratory and cross-sectional study. It included 100 puerperal women. An ad hoc survey prepared according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization was applied to them and related to the characteristics of the patients. Previously, the instrument was validated. Descriptive statistics were applied. Results: The intraclass correlation coefficient of the survey was 0.821 and Guttman’s r was 0.879. Overall, 87% of patients perceived moderate adherence. In care during labor and birth, 90 patients perceived moderate adherence, during the labor period, 85% found moderate adherence; in the second stage and delivery, 54% perceived that adherence was moderate but 29% described it as poor. In postpartum care for mother and newborn, 47% perceived adherence to be excellent, with 42% perceiving it as moderate. The total score was 3078 points (61.6%) corresponding to moderate adherence. Conclusions: Health personnel’s adherence to World Health Organization recommendations on humanized childbirth was moderate, and improved late in the process.