Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding humanized childbirth and delivery in two national hospitals of Honduras. Cross-sectional, descriptive study

Abstract

Background: Humanized childbirth prioritizes the physical and emotional needs of the mother, with minimal medical interventions. FIGO and WHO seek to adapt obstetric practices respecting female autonomy but unnecessary interventions that negatively affect the birthing experience. Objectiv: To identify the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices on humanized childbirth in order to sensitize the labor and delivery room staff of two national hospitals. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive study with a sample of 160 physicians. Measures of central tendency, dispersion, frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the results. Results: Age ranged from 25.2 to 42 years. Women predominated in all groups. Knowledge of humanized childbirth was high, with 100% of specialists and 94.3% of general practitioners familiar with its benefits. Most valued privacy and respect for maternal decisions, although almost half of the interns and general practitioners were aware of specific protocols. Positive attitudes towards recommended practices were widespread, especially among general practitioners. Conclusions/recommendations: The study revealed a high level of knowledge about humanized childbirth among health professionals, especially among specialists, with positive attitudes toward recommended practices.