IMPACTO DA PRESENÇA DO ACOMPANHANTE DURANTE O TRABALHO DE PARTO NA EXPERIÊNCIA MATERNA E NA SEGURANÇA DO PARTO

Abstract

The presence of a companion during labor is recognized as an important strategy for humanizing obstetric care, contributing to improved maternal experience and childbirth safety. This study aimed to analyze, through scientific literature, the impact of the presence of a companion during labor on maternal experience and safety. This is a narrative literature review with a qualitative and descriptive approach, conducted in the SciELO, LILACS, BDENF, PubMed, Medline, and Virtual Health Library databases, using descriptors related to humanized childbirth, companion, and obstetric care. Articles published between 2013 and 2025 in Portuguese, English, and Spanish were included. The findings indicate that the presence of a companion is associated with reduced anxiety, fear, and pain perception, as well as promoting women's protagonism, improving communication with the healthcare team, and reducing unnecessary interventions. However, structural and institutional barriers still hinder the effective implementation of this right. It is concluded that the companion plays a fundamental role in promoting more humanized, safe, and woman-centered care, highlighting the need for strategies to ensure their effective participation in healthcare services.