Golden Hour perception in a public maternity hospital: challenges and potentialities under a multi-professional...

The aim of this study was to investigate the self-perception of health professionals regarding the difficulties in the implementation of breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, and delayed cord clamping in the delivery room, and how difficulties and practices are related.

This is an observational, cross-sectional, and quantitative study conducted with health professionals who work in the delivery room in a public maternity hospital in the state of São Paulo. The questionnaire was self-answered in January 2025. The epidemiological characteristics of health professionals, and questions related to breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, and delayed cord clamping in the delivery room were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were performed. The cutoff to consider an item as a difficulty was an agreement below 50%. Difficulties with breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, and delayed cord clamping were analyzed through multiple correspondence analyses.

A total of 75 health professionals were included. The lack of health professionals (38%), inadequate physical space (36%), and low adherence of obstetricians (34%) were considered difficulties. Correspondence analysis revealed that difficulties did not correspond to practices. Inadequate physical space and a lack of health professionals were correlated. When doctors indicate breastfeeding, they indicate delayed cord clamping, suggesting that these practices go hand in hand.

The findings suggest a lack of alignment among health professionals. Insufficient numbers of health professionals, physical limitations, and non-adherence of obstetricians are barriers to overcome. Breastfeeding and delayed cord clamping appear to be integrated practices. Other factors may influence these practices, as difficulties did not correspond with them.