Relação entre a assistência fisioterapêutica durante o processo de parturição e a experiência de parto: um estudo observacional transversal

Abstract

The experience of childbirth can have a positive or negative impact on a woman's life, and may have long-term consequences. The childbirth care team plays an important role in the woman's experience. Recently, physiotherapists have been part of the childbirth care team, but there are no studies investigating the childbirth experience of women who have had physiotherapy support. Objectives: To verify whether physiotherapist assistance during the childbirth process is related to the childbirth experience. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study. This research was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of São Carlos. Participants were recruited in a digital environment through social networks, and data collection was performed by filling out an electronic form by women from all over the country. The study population consisted of Brazilian postpartum women who had a vaginal birth in a hospital setting less than 12 months ago. To characterize the study population, a data collection form was used, and to assess the experience with the current birth, the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) composed of 22 items was used. Analyses were performed using simple descriptive statistics, such as calculations of mean, standard deviation, and percentage to characterize the sample. The model for logistic regression analysis was constructed from the causal diagram, and theanalysis was used to verify the proposed associations. Results: A total of 321 women participated in the study, with a mean age of 32.0 (5.08) years. Physiotherapist assistance during labor was associated with a higher score on the CEQ-Br (complete case analysis, adjusted β = 0.144, 95% CI [0.028–0.261]; multiple imputation analysis, adjusted β = 0.147, 95% CI [0.03–0.264]). Conclusion: Regarding the relationship between the physical therapist and the birth experience, physical therapist assistance during labor appears to be associated with a positive birth experience. Although these findings are promising, they are preliminary.