OBJECTIVES: evaluate birthing care from the perspective of adolescents seen at a university hospital. METHODS: a quantitative descriptive study deve-loped at a university hospital in the south of Brazil. The research sample was comprised of 269 adolescents, between 10 and 19 years of age, from July 2008 to October 2009. The data was collected through interviews about the practices of vaginal childbirth. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's Exact Test. The fin-dings were then compared with the recommended practices for perinatal care recommended by the Ministry of Health (MH). RESULTS: the lithotomic position was adopted in 99% of cases; an episiotomy was performed on 89.6% of delivering women; digital vaginal examinations were conducted by more than one examiner in 69.4% of deliveries; routine preventive venous catheterization was performed in 91.8% of adolescent girls and food and water restrictions were put in place in 87.4% of cases. These findings are not consistent with MH guidelines for birthing care. CONCLUSIONS: many of the guidelines recommended by MH for birthing care are disregarded at the reviewed institution and must be revised in order to address the directives of the Ministry of Health.
Adolescent; Parturition; Pregnancy in adolescence; Normal childbirth
