BACKGROUND:
The WHO and ICM provide guidance for the full realization of sexual and reproductive health rights through the implementation of a respectful care model. The Chilean Ministry of Health developed a Manual for Personalized Care of the Reproductive Process, which aims to align efforts for its implementation.

OBJECTIVES:
To explore the experiences of midwives implementing the respectful birth model in a regional public hospital.

METHODS:
A qualitative, descriptive study. Nine midwives from the maternity ward of Copiapó Regional Hospital participated. The criterion of data saturation was applied. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using Berelson’s content analysis.

RESULTS:
The concept of respectful birth is generally defined in vague and ambiguous terms; however, certain elements were identified, including companionship, bonding, privacy, safety, and autonomy. The regional model is perceived as an adaptation of ministerial guidelines. In general, favorable attitudes toward implementing the respectful birth model were observed, reflected in practices such as limiting episiotomies, promoting pain management, facilitating companionship, and incorporating complementary elements such as music and dim lighting. Positive emotions included satisfaction with the recognition of their professional contributions, while negative emotions included frustration over being restricted from prescribing analgesia. Facilitating factors included a partial increase in midwifery staffing, effective companionship, and the incorporation of music, placenta delivery, and student assistance. Several obstacles were reported, including infrastructure that impedes privacy, insufficient midwifery staff, limited awareness of the model among users, lack of autonomy in decision-making between professionals and users, and resistance to change, particularly among more experienced midwives.

CONCLUSIONS:
Implementation of the model is partial and adapted. Although positive attitudes and some facilitators are present, challenges and barriers predominate.

KEY MESSAGE:
Ethical Aspects: The Ethics Committee approved the study, and informed consent was obtained. Poster session 1 (Group A)