UNA EXPERIENCIA DE ACOMPAÑAMIENTO CON DOULA A ADOLESCENTES EN TRABAJO DE PARTO

SUMMARY Objective: To compare the effects of continuous doula support and standard hospital care on pain and fear perception, during labor and delivery, as well as perception of difficulty and satisfaction with the birth experience, in a sample of pregnant teenagers. Method: The study group was conformed by eighty pregnant teenagers participants in “Emprende Mama Program” attended in the outpatient clinics of La Florida county for their prenatal care and delivery at a public hospital. They received emotional support during labor by a 2 hour trained female relative or friend, previously chosen by them. The control group was conformed by eighty non participants teenagers attended at the same outpatient clinics and delivery in the same period. Results: Teenagers with doula support reported less pain and fear during labor and delivery and perceived their birth experience as less difficult. No significant differences were reported in relation to satisfaction with birth experience. Although teenagers with doula support reported satisfaction due to positive aspects with birth experience, meanwhile the control group felt mostly satisfied due the absence of negative feared expectations. Conclusion: Labor support given by doula, is a low cost intervention which improves quality perception of birth experience in the adolescent pregnant.