Objective: To characterize ethnographic research in the area of obstetric nursing regarding its theoretical, methodological and analytical aspects. Method: An integrative review performed in the MEDLINE®, LILACS, BDENF and CINAHL databases, as well as the SciELO virtual library. Results: Thirty (30) articles formed the analytical corpus after screening and reading the primary references in full. The most used methods were ethno-nursing, ethnography and institutional ethnography; the immersion

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... me in the field ranged from 12 visits to 48 months occurring in institutional contexts. The main data collection techniques were observation, individual interviews and training guides for ethno-nursing. The data were organized as themes and subthemes, analyzed through the ethno-nursing analysis guide, implementing the Theory of Diversity and Universality of Cultural Care as theoretical reference. Conclusion: Ethnographic studies in the area of obstetric nursing are within the scope of microethnographies and are operationalized based on theoretical-methodological nursing references, being useful to analyze the complexity of phenomena involving obstetric nursing care, and focusing on the etic (professional) and emic (women) perspectives.