Nursing interventions oriented towards humanized care in the area of obstetrics: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: Humanized care in obstetrics is a fundamental pillar of nursing practice, recognizing women as holistic beings with physical, social, cultural, and emotional needs; however, its application in obstetric services still faces limitations in several areas. Objective: To analyze the available scientific evidence on nursing interventions focused on humanized care in obstetrics and their impact on the satisfaction and well-being of pregnant, laboring, and postpartum women. Materials and methods: This study consisted of a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines, consulting studies published in the Scopus, PubMed, Redalyc, Dialnet, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases between 2020 and 2025. Primary studies and systematic reviews in Spanish and English were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice (JHNEBP) model. Of the initial 1209 records, 24 studies were included, revealing five dimensions of humanized care: communicative-emotional, ethical and rights-based, technical-assistance, cultural, and spiritual. Results: The most effective interventions were obstetric psychoprophylaxis, continuous support, therapeutic communication, individualized birth plans, and self-care education. The studies reported improvements in maternal satisfaction, reductions in anxiety and obstetric violence, as well as better perinatal outcomes. Conclusions: It is concluded that nursing interventions focused on humanized care improve women's experiences and constitute an indicator of quality care. Their implementation requires institutional policies and ongoing training to guarantee comprehensive and respectful care.