Model of Planned Home Birth Care in Brazil: A Scoping Review
Queiroz, T. C. 
ORCID: 0000-0003-4742-3046, Bussadori, J. C. C. ORCID: 0000-0002-3048-5593, Silva, P. G. ORCID: 0009-0001-9437-7196 , Girão, F. B. ORCID: 0000-0001-7229-0519, Cerqueira, A. C. G. ORCID: 0009-0005-9948-7844, Leister, N. ORCID: 0000-0002-1505-1906 & McCourt, C. ORCID: 0000-0003-4765-5795 (2026).
Model of Planned Home Birth Care in Brazil: A Scoping Review.
Midwifery, 158,
article number 104813.
doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2026.104813
Abstract
Problem
Unlike England, Canada, and the Netherlands, where home birth is regulated and integrated into public health care, Brazil still lacks formal regulation, clinical standards, and national guidelines for planned home birth.
Background
In Brazil, 99.3% of births occur in hospitals. Planned home birth with nurse-midwives and midwives has grown as an alternative, promoting professional autonomy and respecting physiological processes. International evidence supports its safety, but it remains outside the formal health system.
Aim
To map the scientific literature on planned home birth care provided by nurse-midwives and midwives in Brazil.
Method
A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the JBI Reviewer’s Manual. Searches were carried out between January and February 2024 and updated in December 2024. Databases and repositories included BVS, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE and national thesis repositories. The inclusion criteria were population, nurse-midwives and midwives; concept, childbirth care model; context, planned home births in Brazil.
Findings
Thirteen studies published between 2012 and 2023 were included, involving 124 nurse-midwives and one midwife. Findings were grouped into categories: care process, team composition, materials, protocols, good practice indicators, evaluation indicators, and professional experience.
Discussion
While planned home birth is expanding in Brazil, barriers remain, including absence of national protocols, difficulty accessing supplies, and poor integration with hospital services.
Conclusion
The autonomy, integration and expertise of nurse-midwives and midwives are central to safe planned home births. National policies and standardised guidelines are needed in Brazil to strengthen this model of care and ensure safety, legitimacy, and sustainability.
| Publication Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) |
| Publisher Keywords: | Nurse Midwives, Healthcare Models, Midwifery, Home Child birth, Brazil |
| Subjects: | F History United States, Canada, Latin America > F1201 Latin America (General) R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics |
| Departments: | School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Nursing & Midwifery |
| SWORD Depositor: |
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