CHARACTERIZATION OF MEN WHO ATENDED THEIR PARTNERS’ PLANNED HOME CHILDBIRTH IN WESTERN SANTA CATARINA

Abstract

This article aims to present the characterization of men who were present during the planned home childbirth of their partners in western Santa Catarina region.  The research followed the exploratory descriptive methodology, with a qualitative approach. 14 men who lived in the state of Santa Catarina participated in the research. The data was collected through online interviews, based in a semi-structured question guide. The characterization of these participants included information regarding age, marital status, education level, occupation, belief/religion, family income, city they live in, in addition to relevant information about prenatal care, childbirth and the postpartum period of these participants' partners, that was presented in a descriptive way through simple statistics. The results showed that the average age of the partners was 32 years old and 86% were married or lived in a stable union with a partner, all of them had at least completed high school, in relation to the profession, it was revealed that the main occupations among all were administration and engineering and the monthly income ranged from 3 to 10 minimum wages. Nine men were at prenatal care appointments of their partners and the decision of home childbirth was a consensus. Concluded that the presence of the man during partners’ planned home childbirth shows an important transition of the father's figure, making possible extrapolate stereotypes and prejudices that are still ingrained in society.