Doula support among brazilian women who attended the senses of birth health education intervention - a cross sectional analysis.

Background: While maternal health is a priority in international goals, maternal health outcomes remain poor in many regions of the world. In Brazil, maternal mortality has decreased over the past decades, but the country's maternal mortality ratio is higher than over half of all countries at 59 deaths per 100,000 live births. The Brazilian maternal health care model facilitates high rates of medical interventions during labor and childbirth; 56% of births are by cesarean birth.

Changes in perceived knowledge about childbirth among pregnant women participating in the Senses of Birth intervention in Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Senses of Birth (SoB) is a health education intervention in Brazil that aims to reduce unnecessary cesareans in the country by providing information on reproductive rights, benefits and risks of childbirth, and use of intrapartum evidence-based practices (EBP) which are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve childbirth outcomes and satisfaction. This study evaluates the impact of the SoB on pregnant women's perceived knowledge about normal birth (NB), cesarean, and use of EBP.

Methods: 1287 pregnant women answered a structured survey immediately after their visit to the intervention, between March 2015 and March 2016.

The Senses of Birth intervention to decrease cesarean and prematurity rates in Brazil.

Objective: To increase knowledge and promote cultural change toward valuing normal birth, and to lower rates of cesarean and unnecessary interventions during childbirth in Brazil via the Senses of Birth (SoB) exhibition.

Methods: The SoB intervention targeted 22 621 participants in three Brazilian cities in 2015. The effects of the exhibition in knowledge, perceptions, and preferences regarding childbirth were analyzed in a multi-method study.