Postpartum woman’s perception of the Companion Law

Abstract

Introduction: The Federal Law nº 11.108 (Companion Law) of April 7, 2005, affirmed the right of women to have a companion during prenatal and the periods of labor, childbirth and postpartum, and their presence may bring benefits for both mother and baby. Objective: To analyze the perception of postpartum women about the benefits of the Companion Law. Methods: A qualitative and descriptive field study conducted with 19 postpartum women in a maternity hospital in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. For data collection, we used the interview, guided by a semi-structured script in a private environment. For data analysis, the thematic content analysis proposed by Bardin was used. Results: The importance of the companion in the puerperal pregnancy period is observed, but there is a lack of knowledge about this law, denoting the weakness of some professionals in informing women during prenatal care about their rights. Conclusion: The testimonies of the study mothers reveal that the benefits provided by the presence of the companion make the experience of childbirth positive. However, expanding information and recognizing this right is fundamental to improving the quality of care.