\u201cBabies born early?\u201d - silences about prematurity and their consequences

Maria J O Miele,Jussara L Souza,Rodolfo C Pacagnella,Carina R Angelini,Maria J D Osis,José G Cecatti

doi:10.1186/s12978-018-0594-4

Abstract

BackgroundThe principal aim of this study was to understand how communication between parents and health professionals concerning prematurity occurs, from delivery to admission to the neonatal Intensive Care Unit.MethodsThis is an exploratory, descriptive study with a qualitative methodology. Data were collected using tape-recorded and Focal Groups technique interview with mothers of premature newborns and health professionals involved in caring for preterm infants, at southeast Brazil.ResultsThe word “premature” was not said or heard during prenatal care. From the narratives, it was observed that there was a lack of information available to pregnant women about preterm birth, failure in medical care regarding signs and symptoms reported by pregnant women, and lack of communication between the medical teams, mothers and family during delivery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission.ConclusionThere is a fine line between born too soon and die too soon, that increases stress, fear and distance impacting negatively over communication between mothers and health professionals during antenatal care, childbirth and NICU admission.

Highlights

The principal aim of this study was to understand how communication between parents and health professionals concerning prematurity occurs, from delivery to admission to the neonatal Intensive Care Unit
88,4% was attended by the same health professional, only 58.7% has advised about the maternity hospital there should search for at the delivery, and 16.2% had difficult to find a health service in the birthing time [8]
Two Focus Group (FG) were formed (Table 1), one with seven mothers of preterm infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (MFG), all arrived from external prenatal care and their infants were born between 24 and 33 gestational weeks, all searched for the Maternity from small cities

Summary

Introduction

The principal aim of this study was to understand how communication between parents and health professionals concerning prematurity occurs, from delivery to admission to the neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Brazil offers a mix of health facilities providing levels of specialized care thru public health system called Unified National Health System. These Health Care System recommendations in the Humanization Program in Prenatal Care and Birth which proposes a welcoming atmosphere for accompanying and educative activities, to help women solve their doubts during prenatal care until delivery [6]. 88,4% was attended by the same health professional, only 58.7% has advised about the maternity hospital there should search for at the delivery, and 16.2% had difficult to find a health service in the birthing time [8]

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Discussion

Conclusion