In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology, 2006. / The purpose of this research was to describe the experience of working with patients with HIV/AIDS, in particular performing caesarean sections, from a medical practitioner's perspective. A phenomenological study method was employed in which each participant used in the research was interviewed in a single session. The original sample consisted of 9 participants. They were selected by means of criterion sampling from the gynaecology and obstetrics department of different public hospitals in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town. Six protocols were selected for phenomenological explication based on the interviews with the 9 original participants. The sample consisted of 3 females and 3 males, from different cultural backgrounds, who regularly perform surgical gynaecological procedures on patients with HIV/AIDS. The results were presented in the form of an integrative text, which accounted for all of the individual variations of the experience of working with patients with HIV/AIDS. Out of this text the researcher explicated natural meaning units, specific to each participant, which were used in formulating a specific description of experiencing the performance of a caesarean section on a patient with HIV/AIDS. This study concluded with a discussion of the results, as well as a formulation of a general description of experiencing the performance of caesarean sections on patients with HIV/AIDS for all 6 participants. Overall, this research explicated unique descriptions of individual experiences, and contributes to a general understanding of the experience of performing a caesarean section on a patient with HIV/AIDS. Operational definitions • Phenomenology - A department of the inductive sciences concerned with the facts that form the basis of its system. • Caesarean section - A mode of childbirth in which a surgical incision is made through a pregnant woman's abdomen and uterus to deliver a baby. • Human Immunodeficiency Vinis- A retrovirus that attacks and severely damages the body's immune system and for which there is presently no cure. • Life-wortd- The space occupied by any one person in the external, physical world, as well as the internal lived-in world, consisting of emotions and cognitions.

Av de 110 000–120 000 barn som föds årligen i Sverige, avslutas ca 18,6 procent av förlossningarna med kejsarsnitt och ca tio procent av alla barn behöver vårdas på neonatalvårdsavdelning. Vid en normal förlossning främjas amningen och anknytningen mellan mor och barn genom hud mot hudkontakt som stimulerar barnets medfödda beteenden. Oxytocinfrisättningen stimuleras vilket underlättar moderns återhämtning och främjar bindningen till barnet. När mor och barn behöver separeras direkt efter födseln uteblir dessa normala förhållanden.   Syftet med denna studie var att belysa konsekvenserna för relationen mellan mor och barn av tidig separation efter födseln. Metoden som tillämpades var litteraturöversikt med systematisk design. Artikelsökningen genomfördes i databaserna PubMed, CINAHL och PsycInfo vilket genererade 16 artiklar till studiens resultat. Artiklarnas kvalité granskades via en kvalitetsgranskningsmall för att säkerställa god kvalité och öka resultatets tillförlitlighet. För att samla in, analysera och sammanställa data från de olika studierna användes en integrerad analys.   Resultatet har sammanställts i form av två huvudkategorier och fem underrubriker som tillsammans underbygger studiens syfte. Studiens resultat visar på att separation har både kortsiktiga och långsiktiga konsekvenser. Separationen påverkar moderns förmåga att binda till sitt nyfödda barn, begränsar hennes möjlighet att delta i omvårdnaden av barnet, ökar risken för depression, hindrar tidig hud mot hudkontakt samt har en negativ inverkan på amningen.  Slutsatsen från studien är att separation medför flertalet konsekvenser för mor och barns fysiska och mentala hälsa. Vårdpersonal bör vara medvetna om att separation bör undvikas i den mån det är möjligt. Om separation inträffat bör vårdpersonal ha kunskap om konsekvenserna för att erbjuda stöd som minimerar de negativa konsekvenserna. / Of the 110 000-120 000 babies born annually in Sweden, approximately 18.6 percent of births ends with a caesarean section and approximately ten percent of all newborns need to be cared for in the neonatal care unit. During a normal delivery, breastfeeding and attachment between mother and child are promoted through skin-to-skin contact that stimulates the child's innate behaviors. Oxytocin release is stimulated which facilitates the mother's recovery and promotes bonding. When mother and child are separated early after birth, these normal conditions are absent. The aim of this study was to highlight the consequences for the relationship between mother and child of early separation after birth. The method applied was a literature review with systematic design. The article search was conducted in the databases PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycInfo, generating 16 articles for the study's result. The quality of the articles was reviewed using a quality assessment template to ensure good quality and increase reliability. An integrated analysis was used to collect, analyze, and summarize data from the various studies. The results have been summarized in two main categories and five subheadings that together support the purpose of the study. The results showed that separation has both short-term and long-term consequences. Separation affects the mother's ability to bond with her newborn, limits her ability to participate in the baby's care, increases risk of depression, hinders early skin to skin contact, and has a negative impact on breastfeeding. The conclusion of the study is that separation has numerous physical and mental health consequences for both mother and baby. Healthcare professionals should be aware that separation should be avoided as far as possible. If separation occurs, healthcare professionals should have knowledge of the consequences it causes so they can offer support that minimizes the negative consequences.

The overutilization of cesarean deliveries is a major public health issue in the United States (U.S.). The rates of cesarean deliveries have increased substantially from the mid 1990s. Low-risk, defined as nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) pregnancies with no medical indication of need, and elective cesarean deliveries have been implicated as drivers of these increases. Elective cesarean deliveries are NTSV cesarean deliveries in which no trial of labor was attempted. There is a lack of clear rationale as to the noted increases in cesarean delivery rates as the evidence shows that these procedures provide no additional health benefits to mothers or infants. In fact, excessive use of cesarean sections has been associated with poorer health outcomes and quality of care, and higher health care expenditures. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the current variation in NTSV and elective cesarean deliveries in the U.S., and further to examine the extent to which national trends are mirrored in Appalachia, a region disproportionately burdened by lack of health care resources and poor health outcomes. A repeated cross-sectional analysis of the prevalence of NTSV and elective cesarean deliveries in the U.S. between 2016 and 2020 was conducted using individual-level vital records data. Differences were examined by rurality and Appalachian designation. Logistic regression and marginal analyses were used to examine changes in the prevalence of these outcomes over time while adjusting for additional pertinent covariates. Approximately 25% of NTSV births are delivered via cesarean section, and 37% of those NTSV cesarean deliveries are elective. No practically significant differences in the prevalence of NTSV cesarean deliveries were noted based on rurality or Appalachian designation. However, there were significant variations in the prevalence of elective cesarean deliveries by geography. Rates of elective cesarean deliveries were significantly lower in rural communities compared to metropolitan, or urban, communities. Non-Appalachia had predominantly higher prevalence of elective cesarean deliveries compared to the Appalachian sub-regions. The findings of this dissertation suggest that while variations in health outcomes may be driven by geographic designations, variations in health services utilization are likely driven by other factors, such as institutional and provider characteristics.

Experimentation in field settings addressing socially sensitive topics are generally avoided by researchers. This avoidance is based on the restrictive nature of the required controls and the perceived inability to implement the required designs. In this study, the researcher has documented the necessary steps to meet design requirements for the conduct of a quasi-experimental study in two field settings. This quasi-experimental study addresses a case dealing with the attitudes of parents regarding their childbirth experiences. Programs for childbirth education traditionally emphasize the "natural" method of birth. Socially, cesarean births are currently being performed in 20 percent of the cases. Nursing education literature Suggests that prepared childbirth education programs contribute to negative parental attitudes for those experiencing cesarean birth. In the case for this study, attitudes of parents experiencing both vaginal and cesarean births and receiving three different levels of childbirth education were investigated. Documentation of the required research controls for the case was achieved through the maintenance of a log of events. The three levels of childbirth education included two types of Lamaze training and the non-prepared. Two hundred and sixteen (216) parents in each of the settings were included in the study representing 54 vaginal and 54 cesarean births. The measurements included hospital records/and response to a modified Likert scale. Analysis of variance was used to test the research hypothesis. Documentation of all research requirements for the study was successfully completed and case results obtained. Parents experiencing cesarean birth had more negative attitudes than those experiencing vaginal birth. In one of the two field settings, childbirth education was validated as contributing to more negative attitudes for cesarean birth, but was not replicated in the second setting. A significant (P<.05) first order interaction between type of birth and receipt of childbirth education was found in both settings. / Ed. D.

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) has been used for more than 100 years to enhance the physiologic process of labor and delivery by normalizing pelvic structures and providing adequate blood supply to the uterus. Since maternal morbidity and mortality is a major health concern for developing countries, it was desirable to explore the benefits of OMT. After IRB approval by the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine and Virginia Tech, the research was conducted in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic at Hospital Maternidad Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia to determine the relationship of OMT during labor and delivery on rates of cesarean section and perineal lacerations/ episiotomies. Qualifying candidates received the next sequentially numbered envelope with a randomized number assigning her to either the treatment or control group. Staff physicians at the hospital provided care to women in the control group according to their standard protocol. Four Osteopathic Physicians and one pre-doctoral OMM fellow performed OMT on women during the first and second stages of labor and performed their deliveries. There were 33 parturients in the OMT Treatment group and 32 in the control, for a total of 65 in the trial. The results of a logistic regression analysis using Wald criterion, with a statistical significance of alpha = 0.05, indicated treatment group reduction of rates of episiotomies in the primiparous (P = .04) and marginal significance in the combined primiparous and multiparous population (P = .05). The percentage of episiotomies in the primiparous treatment group was 35.29% and 75% in the control group. The percentage of episiotomies in the combined primiparous and multiparous groups were 15.15% in the treatment group and 37.5% in the control group. The cesarean rate for the treatment group was 9.09% and 18.75% for the control group (P = 0.098). The percentages of grade I & II perineal lacerations were 15.15% for the treatment group and 12.5% for the control group (P = 0.55) due to the extensive use of episiotomies in the control group. There were composite calculations made of the total number of parturients who had either a cesarean section, an episiotomy, or a perineal laceration so that overall maternal morbidity in each group could be compared. In the combined groups, there were fourteen total parturients (42.42%) who had undergone one of the three outcomes measures in the treatment group and twenty-one (65.63%) in the control group. This brings an odds ratio of 0.200 and a significant P value of 0.0235. Though cross-cultural issues made it difficult to perform the research as originally intended, there is evidence that Osteopathic Obstetrics provides benefit to parturients. A multi-institutional randomized controlled trial is proposed as the next step for the evaluation of OMT during labor and delivery. / Ph. D.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background Caesarean section deliveries are the most common procedures performed by obstetricians in Zimbabwe. Surgical site infections (SSI) following caesarean section delivery result in increased hospital stay, treatment, cost, hospital readmission rates and related maternal morbidity and mortality. There is no national surveillance system for SSIs in Zimbabwe, however, information is available on number of cases of post-operative wound infection after caesarean section, but the denominator and definition used is not consistent. The objective of this study were develop and strengthen the surveillance system in Zimbabwe, to establish a clinical-based system in a setting with limited microbiological access, to measure post-operative SSI after caesarean section and to describe the associated risk factors and to determine whether feedback of SSI data has any effect on the surgical site infection incidence rate. Methodology This was a before and after study with two rolling cohort periods conducted at two Central hospitals in Harare, Zimbabwe. An Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) intervention was conducted in-between. During the pre-intervention period, baseline demographic and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and during the post-intervention period the impact of the interventions was measured. Convenience sampling was employed. Results A total of 290 women consented to participate in the study in the pre intervention period, 86.9% (n= 252) completed the 30-days post-operative follow-up and the incidence rate of SSI was 29.0% (n=73, 95% CI:23.4-35.0) Interventions developed included: training in Infection Prevention and Control for health workers; implementation of a protocol for cleaning surgical instruments; dissemination of information on post-operative wound management for the women. After implementation of the intervention, 314 women were recruited for the post-intervention, 92.3%(n= 290) completed the 30-day follow-up and there was a significant (p<0.001) reduction in the incidence rate of SSIs to 12.1 % (n=35, 95% CI: 8.3 -15.8) during this period. Development of SSI after caesarean section was found to be significantly associated with emergency surgery (p<0.001), surgical wound class IV (p=0.001) and shaving at home (p<0.001) at both pre- intervention and post-intervention periods. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za iii Conclusion This study shows that caesarean section can be performed with low incidence of SSI if appropriate interventions such as training in IPC, adequate cleaning of equipment and education in wound-care for the mother are adhered to. It also demonstrated a simple surveillance data collection tool can be used on a wide scale in resource limited countries to assist policy makers with monitoring and evaluation of SSI rates as well as assessment of risk factors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond Keisersnitte is die mees algemene prosedure wat uitgevoer word deur obstetriese dokters in Zimbabwe. Chirurgiese wond infeksies wat op keisersnitte volg lei tot verlengde hospitaal verblyf, behandeling, koste, heropname koerse en verwante moederlike morbiditeit en mortaliteit. Alhoewel daar geen nasionale waaktoesig sisteem vir chirurgiese wondinfeksies is nie, is informasie beskikbaar vir ‘n aantal gevalle wat post-operatiewe wondinfeksie na ‘n keisersnit onwikkel het, maar die noemer en definisie word inkonsekwent gebruik. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die waaktoesig sisteem in Zimbabwe te ontwikkel en te versterk, om ‘n klinies-gebasseerde sisteem te vestig in ‘n opset met beprekte mikrobiologiese toegang, om postoperatiewe chirurgiese wond infeksies na keisersnitte te meet en om die geassosieerde risikofaktore te beskryf en om vas te stel of terugvoering van chirurgiese wondinfeksie data enige effek op die infeksiekoerse na keisersnitverlossings gehad het. Metodologie Hierdie was ‘n voor-en-na studie met twee kohort periodes uitgevoer by twee sentrale hospitale in Harare, Zimbabwe. ‘n Infeksievoorkoming en –beheer intervensie was tussenin uitgevoer. Tydens die pre-intervensie periode was basislyn demografiese en kliniese data ingesamel deur middel van ‘n gestruktureerde vraeboog, en gedurende die post-intervensie fase was die impak van die intervensies gemeet. Gerieflikheidsteekproefneming was geimplementeer. Resultate ‘n Totaal van 290 vroue het toestemming verleen om aan die studie deel te neem in die pre-intervensie periode, waarvan 86.9% (n=252) die 30 day post-operatiewe opvolg voltooi het en die insidensiekoers van chirurgiese wondinfeksies was 29.0% (n=73, 95% CI:23.4-35.0) Intervensies wat onwikkel was het ingesluit: opleiding in Infeksie Voorkoming en -Beheer vir gesondheidswerkers; die implementering van ‘n protokol om chirurgiese instrumente skoon te maak; disseminering van informasie oor post-operatiewe wondhantering vir vroue. Na die implimentering van die intervensie was 314 vroue gewerf in die post-intervensie fase, waarvan 92.3% (n=290) die 30 dae opvolg voltooi het. Daar was ‘n beduidende (p<0.001) verlaging in die insidensiekoers van chirurgiese wondinfeksies na 12.1% (n=35, 95% CI: 8.3-15.8) gedurende hierdie periode. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za v Daar was bevind dat chirurgiese wondinfeksies beduidend geassosieer was met noodchirurgie (p<0.001), chirurgiese wondklassifikasie IV (p=0.001) en skeer van hare by die huis (p<0.001) by beide die pre-intervensie en post-intervensie periodes. Gevolgtrekking Hierdie studie wys dat keisersnitte uitgevoer kan word met ‘n lae insidensie van chirurgiese wondinfeksies indien toepaslike intervensies, soos opleiding in infeksievoorkoming en beheer, voldoende skoonmaak van toerusting en opvoeding in wondsorg vir die moeders. Dit het ook aangedui dat ‘n eenvoudige data-insameling instrument op ‘n wye basis gebruik kan word in beperkte-hulpbron lande om beleidmakers te help met monitering en evaluering van chirurgiese wondinfeksie koerse, asook die assessering van risikofaktore.

Die Kaiserschnittrate erhöhte sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten in zahlreichen geburtshilflichen Kliniken. Diese Entwicklung ist problematisch, weil damit eine erhöhte pulmonale Morbidität der Neugeborenen verbunden sein kann. Die vor­ liegende Arbeit untersucht die Anpassung von späten Frühgeborenen (34,0–36,6 SSW) und 2 Gruppen von reifen Neugeborenen (37,0–37,6 und 40,6–40,6 SSW) in einem Level 1 Zentrum in Abhängigkeit vom Geburtsmodus. Eingeschlos­ sen wurden primär gesunde Kinder, die im Verlauf eines Jahres geboren wurden. Ausge­ schlossen wurden Kinder mit nachgewiesener angeborener Anomalie und Kinder mit einer schweren Anpassungsstörung (Apgar 5‘<6). Die Kaiserschnittrate lag bei 22% und war am höch­ sten bei späten Frühgeborenen (39%) im Ver­ gleich zu Kindern der 37. (30 %) und der 40. SSW (11%). Die Rate der Kinder, die mit CPAP behan­ delt werden mussten fiel von 88 % in der 34. SSW auf 17% in der 37. und 8% in der 40. SSW. Kinder nach Kaiserschnitt mussten im Vergleich zur spontan geborenen Kindern signifikant häufiger mit CPAP therapiert werden (50 vs. 12%). Dieser Unterschied war für späte Frühgeborene deutlich (82 vs. 36 %) und lag niedriger bei in der 37. (33 vs. 9 %) und 40. (26 vs. 6 %) SSW geborenen Kindern. Der deutlichste Unterschied fiel bei in der 36. SSW geborenen Kindern auf (66 vs. 9%). Die Ergebnisse der Analyse dokumentieren, dass ein Kaiserschnitt bei primär gesunden Kindern zu einer schlechteren respiratorischen Anpassung führt. Dies gilt besonders, jedoch nicht nur, für späte Frühgeborene und dort besonders für Kinder, die in der 36. SSW geboren werden. Die weltweit wachsende Rate von Kaiserschnittent­ bindungen sollte immer wieder kritisch hinter­ fragt werden. Eine Kaiserschnittentbindung ohne klare Indikation führt zu einer erhöhten Rate an respiratorischen Anpassungsstörungen, zur neo­ natologischen Aufnahme der Kinder und damit verbunden zu einer Störung der Mutter­Kind­Bindung, sowie zu einer unnötigen finanziellen Belastung des Gesundheitssystems. Es ist zu wünschen, dass die Daten der Studie benutzt werden, um in der Diskussion zwischen Eltern, Geburtshelfern und Neo­ natologen immer den besten Geburtsweg für das Kind zu finden. / The rates of delivery by Cesarean section (CS) have been trending upwards in recent decades, perhaps leading to higher rates of dysfunction in respiratory adaptation in newborns. We present epidemiological data for pulmonary adaptation by mode of delivery for healthy late preterm and term infants born at a regional tertiary care center. The overall CS rate was 22 % with the lar­ gest proportion of these in late preterms (39%). This drops to 30% in infants born after 37 weeks gestation and to 11% for those born after 40 weeks. Infants needing respiratory support de­ creased significantly as gestational age increased: 88% at 34 weeks, 67% at 35 weeks, 28% at 36 weeks, 17% at 37 weeks and 8% at 40 weeks. The risk of respiratory morbidity following CS as compared to vaginal delivery (VD) was substan­ tially higher. 50% of infants born by CS needed respiratory support compared to only 12% fol­ lowing VD. 82% of all late preterm infants born by CS developed respiratory morbidity compared to 36 % following VD. Comparable data for infants born after 37 and 40 weeks gestation were 33% compared to 9 % and 26 % compared to 6 % respec­ tively. Late preterm infants born after 36 weeks gestation showed the most marked difference by mode of birth with 66 % needing respiratory sup­ port following CS as compared to only 9 % follow­ ing VD. Our data could be useful in counselling parents about risk associated with delivery by Cesarean section. A critical view should be taken of increasing CS rates worldwide because of a clear correlation in increased morbidity in infants, especially late preterm infants.

This is an exploratory study of women’s childbearing decisions and outcomes in non-medically indicated cesarean section childbirths (CS). Focusing on the structure-agency dichotomy, the research is guided by Anthony Giddens’ theory of structuration used in the context of the medicalization framework in order to analyze elements of personal choice and medical jurisdiction in childbearing methods. Quantitative analysis of secondary data and a thematic content analysis of Internet forums are conducted in order to analyze women’s perceptions of autonomy and constraint in their childbearing decisions and outcomes. The findings suggest that the polarization between second- and third wave feminist critiques on medical intervention in childbirth, and between structure and agency, impede our understanding of the complex phenomenon. Applying structuration theory to the medicalization framework helps to work through this polarization, further lending support to third-way feminism.

A infecção de sítio cirúrgico pós-cesárea corresponde a 8% de todas as infecções pós-parto. Sua magnitude está relacionada ao alto percentual de partos cesáreos, no mundo todo. O puerpério é um período em que há maior atenção ao recém-nascido, podendo passar despercebidas condições que indicam infecção. Objetivos: Descrever o perfil das mulheres submetidas ao parto cesáreo (condições de vida, saúde reprodutiva e perfil sociodemográfico), correlacionando-o à presença de infecção e propor um roteiro que auxilie o enfermeiro da atenção básica a identificar indícios de infecção de sítio cirúrgico pós-cesárea no puerpério. Método: estudo exploratório, descritivo, transversal, retrospectivo, realizado por meio de revisão de prontuários (prontuários geral e Mãe Paulistana e Ficha A do SIAB) de 89 mulheres que tiveram parto cesáreo, de 01/01 a 31/12/2014. Tomaram-se informações de diagnóstico médico de infecção de sítio cirúrgico e situações em que havia, pelo menos, uma condição sugestiva de sinais e sintomas. A análise foi realizada segundo estatística descritiva (teste de Fischer). Resultados: A ocorrência de sinais e sintomas de infecção de sítio cirúrgico pós- cesárea foi verificada em 11 prontuários. Em 16 prontuários, não foram encontrados sinais e sintomas, e 62 prontuários não continham informações ou elas estavam incompletas. Raça/cor e dor em baixo ventre podem indicar infecção, mulheres pardas e negras foram as mais frequentes do grupo que apresentaram sinais sugestivos de infecção, apresentando diferença estatística significativa (p. =0,038). O roteiro para consulta de enfermagem no puerpério pós-parto cesáreo complementa dados que auxilia a identificação da ocorrência de sinais e sintomas sugestivos de infecção de sítio cirúrgico e auxilia a identificação de diagnósticos de Enfermagem. Conclusão: O roteiro pode auxiliar o profissional enfermeiro a reconhecer situações de risco e vulnerabilidade para o desenvolvimento de infecção de sítio cirúrgico pós-parto cesáreo ou outro sinal de complicação pós-parto, contribuindo com a melhoria da qualidade da assistência e segurança do paciente. / The surgical infection after cesarean section applies to 8% of all infections post childbirth. The magnitude of this event is related to cesarean sections high percent in the whole world. The puerperium is the period where there is more attention to the new born and the conditions that points to the infection can be unnoticed. Goals: To describe the profile of women who are submitted to cesarean section (life conditions, reproductive health and socio-demographic profile) correlating it to the presence of the infection and to propose a guide that will help the Basic Attention nurse to identify the surgical infection after cesarean section evidences at the puerperium. Method: exploratory, descriptive, transversal and retrospective study, achieved by medical record review (general records, Mãe Paulistana and Ficha A from SIAB) of eighty-nine women who had cesarean section, from January 01st to December 31st, 2014. Were analyzed medical records that had information about medical diagnosis of infection after cesarean section and conditions that contained at least one high trace of infection after cesarean sections signs and symptoms. The analysis was held through descriptive statistics (Fischers test). Results: The occurrence of signs and symptoms of surgical infection after cesarean section was observed in eleven medical records. In sixteen records wasnt found any reference to these signs and symptoms and sixty-two records didnt had the information or they were incomplete. Race/color, lower womb pain can indicate infection, black and dark women were more frequent among the group that presented high signs of infection, performing a significant statistical difference (p. =0,038). The guide to nurse consulting at puerperium after cesarean section complements the data that helps to identify the signs and symptoms of infection after cesarean section and supports the identification of nursing diagnosis. Conclusion: The guide can help the nurse to recognize situations of risk and vulnerability for the development of infection after cesarean section or any other sign of complication post childbirth complication, contributing to a better quality of patients assistance and safety.

Em vista ao alto índice de cesárea no Brasil e ao projeto de humanização do ciclo gravídico-puerperal, observa-se a importância de pesquisar e utilizar recursos nãofarmacológicos que auxiliem na recuperação de mulheres no puerpério imediato da cesárea. A dor e o desconforto estão presentes em razão da cirurgia e dos movimentos necessários para o autocuidado e os cuidados com o recém-nascido. A Eletroestimulação Nervosa Transcutânea (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation - TENS) é uma modalidade terapêutica comumente utilizada para alívio de dor, inclusive dor aguda pós-operatória. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a efetividade da TENS no alívio de dor após cesárea. Para isto, foi realizado estudo clínico controlado, randomizado e simples-cego. Participaram do estudo 20 puérperas no grupo experimental que receberam a TENS e 20 no grupo controle, em que apenas a dor era avaliada. As puérperas foram avaliadas quanto às limitações de atividades decorrentes da dor pós-operatória. Para avaliar a dor foi usada a Escala de Categoria Numérica (Numeric Rating Scale - NRS) e o Questionário de Dor McGill. Foi feita uma primeira avaliação seguida da aplicação da TENS para o grupo experimental, por 45 minutos, e o acompanhamento do grupo controle pelo mesmo tempo. Após este período foi realizada uma segunda avaliação e, uma hora após, uma terceira avaliação. As puérperas apresentaram limitação nos movimentos de sentar e levantar e caminhar. A dor caracterizava-se, principalmente como ritmada e localizada. Os descritores mais comumente citados para descrevê-la foram \"dolorido\", \"que prende\", \"cólica\" e \"que repuxa\". Os maiores escores de dor foram relacionados aos movimentos de sentar e levantar e caminhar. Por meio de teste não paramétrico de Mann-Whitney, foi possível observar que o grupo experimental apresentou redução da dor estatisticamente significante maior que o grupo controle na segunda e na terceira avaliação pela NRS (p<0,001) e pelo McGill (p<0,001). Conclui-se que a TENS foi eficaz no alívio da dor, que permaneceu por, pelo menos, uma hora após a aplicação. Há a necessidade de mais pesquisas, possibilitando a utilização da TENS na prática clínica e como recurso não-farmacológico de humanização no puerpério de cesárea. / On the strengh of the large number of cesareans in Brazil and concerning the humanizing project of the pregnancy-puerperal cycle, it can be observed the importance of researching and prescribing non-pharmacological resources that can help by the recovery of puerperal women from the cesarean section. The pain and the discomfort by reason of the surgery and of those necessary movements for the self-help and to take care of the baby. The Transcutanous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a therapeutic technique commonly used for easing the pain, including the post-operating acute pain. The objective of this research is to analyze the effectiveness of the TENS in the pain relief after cesarean. Hence a simple-blind and a random clinical-controlled study was done. Twenty puerperal women composed the experimental group in which TENS technique was applied and 20 others puerperal women composed the control group in which the pain was only evaluated. The puerperal was evaluated the pain the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the McGill Pain Questionnaire were chosen a first assessment was followed by a 45 minutes session of TENS technique with the experimental group, while the control group was only followed at the same time. After this period happened a second assessment and, an hour later, a third assessment. The puerperal presented limitations in sitting down, stand up and walking movements. The pain was characterized chiefly as rhythmic and located. The words more commonly used to describe pain were \"painful\", \"that holds\", \"colic\" and \"that pulls\". The highest scores of pain were related to the movements of sitting down, stand up and walking. By this Mann-Whitney non-parametric test, it was possible to observe that the experimental group presented a pain reduction more statistically significant than that of the control group in the second and third NRS (p<0,001) and McGill (p<0,001) assessment. The conclusion is that TENS is an efficient technique to promote pain reduction and resulting relief remains at least an hour after its use. More researches should be developed in order to make possible the use of TENS technique in the clinical practice and as a non-pharmacological humanizing resource in the puerperal condition of cesarean section.