Domestic maternal experience with preterm newborn children / Vivência materna domiciliar com recém-nascido prematuro / Experiencias maternas en el hogar con recién nacidos prematuros

Objective Exploring maternal experience with premature newborn children in a domestic environment. Methods The study was qualitative and used focus group interviews with 24 women who had had preterm deliveries in a public maternity hospital located in Northeast Brazil during June and October 2005. The mothers returned to the hospital facility at least 30 days after the newborn were discharged to share their experiences in caring for a premature infant at home. Results Interview data was analysed for content, four thematic nuclei being identified: hospital discharge, preparing the family for discharge, caring for a premature baby at home and life changes arising from the premature birth. The greatest difficulties reported by the mothers in caring for their premature children at home were related to feeding and feelings of insecurity and fear were expressed which showed the need for a support network for the families following discharge. Conclusions The mothers care of premature infants at home represented changes for parents in everyday family life, work and social life, thus showing the need for a support network for them during the transition from hospital to home when considering premature children.

Objetivo Explorar as vivências maternas no cuidar de um recém-nascido prematuro em casa e analisar as dificuldades na assistência materno-infantil, após a alta hospitalar dos prematuros. Métodos Estudo descritivo de natureza qualitativa com utilização do grupo focal com 24 mulheres que tiveram partos pré-termos em uma Maternidade escola, referência estadual para gestação de alto risco no nordeste brasileiro, no período junho a outubro de 2005. As mulheres retornaram ao serviço no período mínimo de 30 dias após a alta do neonato para relatar suas experiências de como cuidavam do recém-nascido prematuro em casa. Resultados Os conteúdos das entrevistas foram divididos em quatro núcleos temáticos: A alta hospitalar; o preparo da família para a alta; cuidando de um bebê prematuro no domicílio materno e, mudanças na vida impostas pelo nascimento prematuro. As maiores dificuldades apresentados pelas mães no cuidado com o filho prematuro em casa dizem respeito à  alimentação e resultaram das falhas da equipe de saúde no preparo dessas famílias para os cuidados domiciliares com o prematuro. Surgiram ainda sentimentos de insegurança e medo, revelando a necessidade de uma rede de apoio com seguimento ambulatorial e de pronto atendimento para oferecer suporte à s famílias de bebês prematuros após a alta. Conclusões No cuidado materno com o filho prematuro no domicílio predominaram sentimentos negativos que impuseram mudanças no cotidiano familiar, no trabalho e na própria vida social, revelando a necessidade de apoio aos pais na transição da vida hospitalar para domiciliar em situação de prematuridade.

Objetivo Explorar las experiencias maternas con recién nacidos prematuros en el entorno domiciliario. Métodos Estudio cualitativo que utilizó un grupo focal con 24 mujeres que tuvieron partos prematuros entre junio y octubre de 2005 en una maternidad pública en el noreste de Brasil. Las madres regresaron a la instalación al menos 30 días después del alta del parto para compartir sus experiencias en el cuidado de un recién nacido prematuro en el hogar. Resultados Cuatro núcleos temáticos fueron identificados: el alta hospitalaria, la preparación de la familia para la aprobación de la gestión, el cuidado de un bebé prematuro en el hogar y los cambios en la vida como resultado del nacimiento prematuro. Las mayores dificultades seà±aladas por las madres en el cuidado de sus nià±os prematuros en el hogar estaban relacionados con la alimentación y se expresaron sentimientos de inseguridad y temor, lo que demuestra la necesidad de una red de apoyo a las familias después del alta. Conclusión El cuidado de la madre del recién nacido prematuro en el hogar representa para los padres cambios diarios en la familia, el trabajo y la vida social, mostrando la necesidad de una red de apoyo para ellos durante la transición del hospital a la casa en una situación de prematuridad.

Practice of prelacteal feeding in a rural community.

In India breast feeding in rural areas appears to be shaped by the health beliefs of a community, which are further influenced by social, cultural and economic factors. One of such tradition is prelacteal feeding which is widely prevalent since ancient times. The present study was aimed to find out the practice of prelacteal feeding and various factors which influence this practice. The study on analysis showed that 45% (90) mothers gave prelacteal feeds to their newborns in the form of sugar water, gur water or cow's milk. Sugar water was common amongst mothers belonging to nuclear family (49%) whereas gur water was given mostly by joint family mothers (75.70%). Parity and family type had no significant effect on this practice, however the effect of literacy was found to be significantly related to the practice.

effect of sociodemographic variables on child-spacing in rural Saudi Arabia

Adequate child-spacing is considered a positive factor in the health of mothers and their children. A house-to-house survey of 332 women in Al-Oyaynah village, Saudi Arabia was carried out in April and May of 1995 to determine the existing practice of child-spacing and factors influencing it. The variables examined included age of the mother, age at marriage, education, income, parity, type of infant-feeding and birth order. The age of the mother, age at marriage and education were significantly associated with the length of the birth interval. The current age of mother and her parity were found to be the only significant predictor variables of birth interval