Prenatal health literacy related to non-pharmacological methods for pain relief in labor

Abstract

The aim was to know and investigate the level of health literacy of pregnant women, as well as to describe and discuss non-pharmacological methods for pain relief during labor and how the transmission of these guidelines by health professionals occurs. It is a qualitative method, with the participation of 10 postpartum women, about Grande Vitória in Espírito Santo, in September 2020. The interview addressed issues of sociodemographic profiles, literacy in non-pharmacological methods in prenatal care and what was the source of this reported knowledge. Of these, the majority obtained information from friends and the others from relatives, the internet, the pregnant woman's booklet and a minority from nurses and doctors. For this, the pillars of the methods were: shower bath, immersion bath, massage, exercises without or with a Swiss ball, breathing and movements in general. It is concluded that health education at the time of prenatal care is an indispensable factor for the promotion of humanized childbirth, mainly due to the occurrence in the reproduction of obstetric violence. Therefore, it is the health professional's role to promote the autonomy and empowerment of the puerperal woman, making her have control of her body.