RESUMEN
Introduction The Sustainable Development Goals adopted at the 2015 United Nations Summit emphasized the importance of global partnerships for the realization of sustainable goals by 2030. The concept of “humanization of childbirth” was central idea of the international technical cooperation “Maternal and Child Health Improvement Project” that was successfully implemented in Brazil from 1996 to 2001. Further, this concept was introduced through relevant laws and legislations in other countries in Latin American countries. Under this umbrella, the current study was constituted to describe how the concept of humanization of childbirth has contributed to the development of relevant regulations, as well as to examine the regional expansion and sustainability of the concept in Latin American countries.Methods We searched the websites of governments and ministries of health in 20 Latin American countries for relevant laws and regulations and international technical cooperation projects in the field of maternal and child health. We particularly searched for legislations and projects which employed phrases such as “humanization of childbirth” and “humanized care.” Further, we analyzed laws and regulations in these countries to understand how the humanization of childbirth was perceived.Results By 2018, 16 countries had passed laws and regulations regarding the humanization of childbirth and four have implemented international technical cooperation projects. Five among them passed laws which focusing on the humanization of childbirth itself and incorporated the concept into the comprehensive care.Conclusions Following the implementation of the project in Brazil, the concept was legalized throughout Latin America. The humanization of childbirth concept aimed to guarantee respect toward and dignity of all human beings. Finally, the development of each legal provision with the intention of incorporating the idea of humanization of childbirth into the comprehensive care services offered by the maternal and child health sector has improved the concept’s sustainability.