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C. Ferreira1, A. Ferroli-Fabricio2, L. Rios3, L. Mascarenhas4, N. Oliveira3
1Universidade de São Paulo, Health Science Department at Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, 2Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil, 3Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil, 4Universidade do Estado do Pará, Belém, Brazil
Background:
Physiotherapy assistance in obstetrics has high levels of scientific evidence showing the benefits of its interventions to promote, prevent and treat several disabilties during pregnancy and the postpartum period. During labor physiotherapy interventions can provide pain relief and enhance labor progression. However, in Brazil, there is a small number of physiotherapists hired by the maternity hospitals and in many places, women do not have access to physiotherapy at this important phase of their life cycle. Thus, the Brazilian Association of Physiotherapy in Women's Health (ABRAFISM) created a work committee including members from different states of the country and launched, on September 1, 2019, the Campaign “For more Physiotherapists in the Maternity Hospitals”.
Purpose: To present the elaboration of an e-book of the innovative Campaign “For more Physiotherapists in Maternity hospitals” in Brazil.
Methods: The e-book was prepared by an organizing committee of members of the ABRAFISM between June and August 2020. In this way, a compilation of regulations and search of scientific evidence of physiotherapy interventions was conducted in the main database, the existing barriers perceived by ABRAFISM were described, as well as the actions and achievements of the Campaign up to August 2020.
Results: The purpose of the e-book was to present the Campaign and mobilize physiotherapists, stakeholders, professional associations and physiotherapy regional and federal Councils to support the campaign by disseminating the role of physiotherapist in maternity hospitals, to expand the implementation of high quality physiotherapy services in maternity hospitals, in line with the precepts of obstetric humanization and teamwork, to expand the role of physiotherapists and to provide levels of excellence in obstetric care during pregnancy, labor and postpartum period. The 71-page document was divided into 14 sessions addressing: the presentation of the Campaign, regulations scientific evidence and the importance of physiotherapy in obstetrics, the barriers for Physiotherapists in the Maternity hospitals, the creation of the ABRAFISM working group, information about the Campaign (launch history, objectives and actions carried out on three working fronts and its achievements) and guidance” how the physiotherapists and stakeholders can assist and join the Campaign. For wide dissemination, this material was launched in an online event, counting on members of ABRAFISM and representatives of most regional Physiotherapy Boards and other Associations.
Conclusion(s): The e-book was produced by a Committee of the ABRAFISM, widely publicized and made available to physiotherapists, physiotherapy federal and regional boards in Brazil, to stakeholders and other Associations. This material must be constantly reviewed and updated in accordance with the actions and progress achieved with the Campaign.
Implications: This material is intended to contribute to popularize the importance of the physiotherapists work in the maternity hospitals in Brazil and to increase the adherence of different sectors of society to the campaign for more physiotherapists in the maternity hospitals, in order to guarantee the access of pregnant women, in labor and postpartum women to the benefits of Physiotherapy.
Funding, acknowledgements: This work was funded by Brazilian Association of Physiotherapy in Women's Health (ABRAFISM).
Keywords: physiotherapy, obstetrics, maternity hospitals
Topic: Professional issues
Did this work require ethics approval? No
Institution: Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
Committee: Ethics committe at Health Science Center
Reason: This work is a compilation of regulations, search of scientific evidence, actions and achievements.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
