DIFICULDADES NA ASSISTÊNCIA AO PARTO NORMAL EM REGIÃO RURAL

Objective: to identify the main difficulties encountered in assisting natural childbirth in rural regions worldwide described in the literature. Method: An integrative review of research studies published online in the following databases: LILACS, BDENF, PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE using the guiding question: “what are the main difficulties encountered in assisting natural childbirth in rural regions worldwide?” with the inclusion criteria: primary studies that addressed natural childbirths in rural areas published in Portuguese, English, Spanish or French, and with no time limit from original articles. The search strategy followed the PICOS strategy as presupposed by PRISMA. Results: 16 articles were selected. The following categories have been identified in assisting natural childbirth in rural regions: socioeconomic problems; shortage of professionals and training of human resources; difficulty in accessing health services, resulting in women's pilgrimage in search of assistance and lack of physical structure in the maternity hospitals. Conclusion: the search for qualified childbirth assistance is a challenge in the rural area, suggesting a greater political-interventionist commitment to training and structuring in search of equity in obstetric care.