Operation of doulas in an obstetric center: perspective of nursing and medical professionals

ABSTRACT Objective: Analyze the impact of doulas in an obstetric center for humanization of childbirth, from the perspective of nursing and medical professionals. Method: Qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research, conducted from March to April 2023, with nursing technicians, nurses and doctors from the obstetric center of a university hospital in the southern extreme of Brazil, whose data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed by Iramuteq software and Discursive Text Analysis, from which three categories emerged for presentation of the results. Results: The doula contributed to the education in health, protagonism, and autonomy of women in childbirth, in reducing obstetric violence, although it is also visualized as aiding in the demand for work. Conclusion: The greater dissemination of the office of doulage would qualify the institution in the humanization of childbirth, and the insertion of doulas in the Basic Units to act in prenatal care would contribute to the effectiveness of the bond with pregnant women.