Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources-Based Support System for Predicting Delivery Type: Model Development and Evaluation Study.

BACKGROUND: The escalating prevalence of cesarean delivery globally poses significant health impacts on mothers and newborns. Despite this trend, the underlying reasons for increased cesarean delivery rates, which have risen to 36.3% in Portugal as of 2020, remain unclear. This study delves into these issues within the Portuguese health care context, where national efforts are underway to reduce cesarean delivery occurrences. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to introduce a machine learning, algorithm-based support system designed to assist clinical teams in identifying potentially unnecessary cesarean deliveries. Key objectives include developing clinical decision support systems for cesarean deliveries using interoperability standards, identifying predictive factors influencing delivery type, assessing the economic impact of implementing this tool, and comparing system outputs with clinicians' decisions. METHODS: This study used retrospective data collected from 9 public Portuguese hospitals, encompassing maternal and fetal data and delivery methods from 2019 to 2020. We used various machine learning algorithms for model development, with light gradient-boosting machine (LightGBM) selected for deployment due to its efficiency. The model's performance was compared with clinician assessments through questionnaires. Additionally, an economic simulation was conducted to evaluate the financial impact on Portuguese public hospitals. RESULTS: The deployed model, based on LightGBM, achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 88%. In the trial deployment phase at a single hospital, 3.8% (123/3231) of cases triggered alarms for potentially unnecessary cesarean deliveries. Financial simulation results indicated potential benefits for 30% (15/48) of Portuguese public hospitals with the implementation of our tool. However, this study acknowledges biases in the model, such as combining different vaginal delivery types and focusing on potentially unwarranted cesarean deliveries. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a promising system capable of identifying potentially incorrect cesarean delivery decisions, with potentially positive implications for medical practice and health care economics. However, it also highlights the challenges and considerations necessary for real-world application, including further evaluation of clinical decision-making impacts and understanding the diverse reasons behind delivery type choices. This study underscores the need for careful implementation and further robust analysis to realize the full potential and real-world applicability of such clinical support systems.

Factors associated with antepartum pilgrimage at a reference maternity hospital in Ceará.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with antepartum pilgrimage in pregnant women in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. METHOD: A cross-sectional study with 300 postpartum women from a state reference maternity hospital, carried out from March 2020 to January 2021. The frequency of pilgrimage was estimated according to socioeconomic characteristics and prenatal care. Analysis with Pearson's chi-square test selected variables for adjusted Poisson regression. RESULTS: The frequency of antepartum pilgrimage to more than one health service was 34.3%. Not knowing the reference maternity hospital (1.16; 95%CI: 1.04-1.30) and not living close to the reference maternity hospital (1.16; 95%CI: 1.03-1.31) were associated with the occurrence of pilgrimage among women. Personal characteristics and prenatal care were not associated. CONCLUSION: There was an association between antepartum pilgrimage and lack of knowledge of the reference maternity hospital and residence far from that maternity hospital, which requires better team communication and the guarantee of easier access to obstetric care services, through effective implementation of regionalization of maternal care.

Psychometric Properties of the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale in Portuguese Pregnant Women.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy provides a privileged and opportune moment to implement interventions promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and significantly improving perinatal outcomes. The Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale (HLBES) can be used to assess health promoting behaviors, such as diet, physical activity, and mental health. PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the HLBES in Portuguese pregnant women. METHODS: A methodological study was conducted on a convenience sample of 192 pregnant women receiving prenatal care. After cross-cultural adaptation, an exploratory factor analysis and internal consistency assessment were carried out to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale. Data collected included the Healthy Lifestyle Beliefs Scale to assess the HLBES' criterion validity. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis with Varimax rotation yielded 2 subscales that explained 45.23% of the total variance. The scale revealed an overall internal consistency of 0.78 and a good criterion validity with the Healthy Lifestyle Beliefs Scale (r = 0.65, P < .01). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the HLBES is an instrument for reporting healthy lifestyle behaviors in Portuguese pregnant women; however, further studies are recommended. This scale can be used to not only describe healthy lifestyle behaviors in pregnant women but also to determine the effects of health promoting interventions.

Sociodemographic and obstetric factors associated with health-related quality of life of high-risk pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between sociodemographic and obstetric factors and the health-related quality of life of pregnant women in high-risk prenatal care. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of women in high-risk prenatal care in Ceara, Brazil. The investigated outcomes were health-related quality of life, using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form health survey; the investigated covariates were sociodemographic and obstetric data. Associative analyses were performed using the Jamovi® software version 0.9. RESULTS: Of the 276 women included in the study, women with the following characteristics presented a better quality of life in some domain of the scale: age equal to or greater than 35 years, higher income per dependent, religious, living with three or fewer persons, with their own home, in primigestation, nulliparous, with no history of previous abortion, and with up to two living children. The regression model showed an association between the total scale score, which means a higher quality of life in women with age equal to or greater than 35 years and a higher income per dependent. CONCLUSION: The study identified sociodemographic and obstetric factors that may affect the quality of life of high-risk pregnant women, providing subsidies to health providers so that they can promote better prenatal care.

Healthy Lifestyle Beliefs Scale: Psychometric properties in Portuguese pregnant women.

Healthy lifestyle during pregnancy influences the pregnant woman's and child's physical and mental health, impacting perinatal outcomes. Healthy lifestyle beliefs are predictors of lifestyle behaviors, requiring a valid and reliable instrument to assess them during prenatal care. The 16-item Healthy Lifestyle Belief Scale (HLBS) measures a person's beliefs about their ability to live a healthy lifestyle. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of the HLBS among pregnant women. A methodological study was developed in two phases: cross-cultural adaptation and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version in a nonprobability sample of 192 Portuguese pregnant women. The exploratory factor analysis suggested three subscales, which explained 53.8% of the total variance. Cronbach's α was 0.83 for the overall scale and for the subscales ranged between 0.71 and 0.81. The HLBS is a reliable and valid instrument to assist health professionals in assessing the ability of Portuguese pregnant women to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Assessing healthy lifestyle beliefs potentially contributes to the development of health behavior interventions in pregnant women and consequently improves perinatal outcomes through evidence-based practices.

Self-care nursing interventions: A qualitative study into electronic health records' contents.

AIMS: This study aims to (1) analyse all self-care-related interventions Portuguese nurses documented, (2) determine potential issues that may impair semantic interoperability and (3) propose a new set of interventions representing nursing actions regarding self-care that may integrate any HER application. BACKGROUND: As populations age and chronic diseases increase, self-care concerns rise. Individuals who seek healthcare, regardless of context, need prompt access to accurate health information. Healthcare professionals need to understand the information in all places where care is provided, creating the need for semantic interoperability within electronic health records. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive and exploratory study was conducted in two phases: (1) a content analysis of nursing interventions e-documentation and (2) a focus group with fifteen registered nurses exploring latent criteria or insights gleaned from the findings of content analysis. The COREQ statement was used to guide research reporting. RESULTS: We extracted 1529 nursing intervention sentences from the electronic health records and created 209 intervention categories. We identified the main issues with semantic interoperability in nursing intervention identification. CONCLUSION: According to the findings, nurses cooperate with clients, offering physical aid and encouraging them to overcome functional limitations to self-care tasks hampered by their conditions. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY AND HEALTH POLICY: This article provides evidence to warn policy makers against decisions to use locally customised electronic health records, as well as evidence on the importance of policy promoting the adoption of a nursing ontology for electronic health records. And, as a result, the harmonisation and effective provision of high-quality nursing care and the reduction of healthcare costs across nations.

Seleção de especialistas para o desenvolvimento de subconjuntos terminológicos da CIPE: uma pesquisa metodológica / Selection of experts for the development of terminological subsets of ICNP: a methodological research

OBJETIVO: Elaborar instrumentos para seleção de especialistas para etapas do desenvolvimento de subconjuntos terminológicos da Classificação Internacional para a Prática de Enfermagem (CIPE). MÉTODO: Trata-se de uma pesquisa metodológica. Os critérios identificados, na revisão integrativa da literatura, constituíram base para dois questionários, analisados por 21 avaliadores, em duas rodadas. O primeiro, organizado com seis domínios e 38 critérios, e o segundo, com cinco domínios e 23 critérios, direcionados para etapas do desenvolvimento do subconjunto terminológico. Adotou-se Índice de Validação de Conteúdo ≥ 0,80. RESULTADOS: Os critérios foram alocados em cinco domínios organizadores. Elaborados quatro instrumentos: i) mapeamento cruzado ­ 18 critérios; ii) definição operacional ­ 15 critérios; iii) validação de conteúdo ­ 17 critérios; e iv) aplicabilidade clínica ­ 13 critérios. CONCLUSÃO: Foram elaborados instrumentos com critérios para seleção de especialistas para o desenvolvimento de subconjuntos terminológicos, que se utilizados podem contribuir para o rigor da seleção de especialistas e com a segurança do processo de validação.

OBJECTIVE: To develop tools for selecting experts for stages in developing terminological subsets of the International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP). METHOD: This is a methodological research study. The criteria identified in the integrative literature review formed the basis for two questionnaires, analyzed by 21 evaluators in two rounds. The first questionnaire was organized with six domains and 38 criteria, and the second with five domains and 23 criteria, focusing on stages of terminological subset development. A Content Validation Index ≥ 0.80 was adopted. RESULTS: The criteria were allocated into five organizing domains. Four instruments were developed: i) cross-mapping ­ 18 criteria; ii) operational definition ­ 15 criteria; iii) content validation ­ 17 criteria; and iv) clinical applicability ­ 13 criteria. CONCLUSION: Instruments with criteria for selecting experts in the development of terminological subsets were developed, which, if used, can contribute to the rigor of expert selection and the safety of the validation process.

Factors associated with puerperal women's perception of the support received from their companions during labor and delivery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to associate sociodemographic characteristics and satisfaction with the support received from companions during labor and delivery. METHOD: An analytical cross-sectional study was performed in a maternity hospital in Fortaleza, Brazil, from March to August 2019, with 320 postpartum women. A form containing sociodemographic and obstetric questions, companion-related information, type of support provided, and the Birth Companion Support Questionnaire (BCSQ) were used to assess the frequency of social support behaviors. χ2 and Fisher exact tests were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: Nonpharmacological methods were associated with an unsatisfactory perception of support, but the emotional support provided by companions was positively associated with women's satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study concerning women's perceptions of the support received from their companions may allow improvements in the delivery of care to women in labor toward the humanization of obstetric practices.

Nursing knowledge of people with paresis of voluntary muscles: a living scoping review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: This review aims to continuously map the nursing knowledge about people with paresis of voluntary muscles in any context of care. INTRODUCTION: Muscle paresis is a condition that significantly impacts quality of life. Nurses have a crucial role in managing this condition, particularly paresis of voluntary movement muscles. However, nursing knowledge about patients with paresis of voluntary muscles is dispersed, hampering the integration of evidence within the structure of information systems. Mapping how the nursing process components are identified is the first step in creating a Nursing Clinical Information Model for this condition, capable of integrating evidence into information systems. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This scoping review will consider studies focusing on the nursing process regarding people with paresis of voluntary muscles in all care contexts. The review will include quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods study designs, systematic reviews, clinical guidelines, dissertations, and theses. METHODS: The review process will follow JBI's scoping review guidance, as well as the Cochrane Collaboration's guidance on living reviews. Screening of new literature will be performed regularly, with the review being updated according to new findings. The search strategy will map published and unpublished studies. The databases to be searched will include MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, JBI Evidence Synthesis , and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Searches for unpublished studies will include OpenGrey and Repositorios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal. Studies published in English and Portuguese from 1975 will be considered for inclusion. REGISTRATION: Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/d7c9g/.

Nursing knowledge on skin ulcer healing: a living scoping review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: This review aims to continuously map the nursing knowledge on skin ulcer healing in any context of care. INTRODUCTION: Chronic wounds are an increasing concern for society and health care providers. Pressure ulcers and venous ulcers, among others, have devastating effects on morbidity and quality of life and require a systematic approach. The nursing process is an important method that allows a better organization and overall care quality for a systematic and continuous professional approach to nursing management of skin ulcers. The integration of this nursing knowledge in informatics systems creates an opportunity to embed decision-support models in clinical activity, promoting evidence-based practice. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This scoping review will consider articles on nursing data, diagnosis, interventions, and outcomes focused on people with skin ulcers in all contexts of care. This review will include quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods study designs as well as systematic reviews and dissertations. METHODS: JBI's scoping review guidance, as well as the Cochrane Collaboration's guidance on living reviews, will be followed to meet the review's objective. Screening of new literature will be performed regularly, with the review updated according to new findings. The search strategy will map published and unpublished studies. The databases to be searched include MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, JBI Evidence Synthesis, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and PEDro. Searches for unpublished studies will include OpenGrey and Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal. Studies published in English and Portuguese since 2010 will be considered for inclusion. SCOPING REVIEW PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/f6s4e/.

Necessidades de aprendizagem das mães e dos pais durante a gravidez / Mothers' and fathers' learning needs during pregnancy / Necesidades de aprendizaje de las madres y de los padres durante el embarazo

Resumo Enquadramento: A adaptação à gravidez implica que quem a vivencia incorpore um conjunto de competências que permitam a promoção da saúde. O conhecimento disciplinar que suporta a identificação das necessidades de aprendizagem é ainda limitado. Objetivo: Identificar as necessidades de aprendizagem, das mães e dos pais, para a promoção do autocuidado durante a gravidez. Metodologia: Estudo transversal, qualitativo. Participaram 80 mães e 20 pais, com intenção de engravidar ou gravidez atual ou prévia. Foram salvaguardados os princípios éticos. Foram realizadas entrevistas, entre janeiro e junho 2016. Os dados foram submetidos a análise de conteúdo (grounded analysis), com recurso ao NVivo11. Resultados: As necessidades de aprendizagem identificadas pelas mães e pais foram categorizadas em preparar-se para a gravidez; ajustar-se à gravidez; cuidar de si; cuidar do bebé (feto); assegurar a vigilância da saúde. Conclusão: Para se ajustarem à gravidez emergem três domínios de necessidades em cuidados - processo corporal, autocuidado/autovigilância e saúde fetal. As necessidades identificadas na mãe e pai são sobreponíveis, pelo que poder-se-á considerar o casal como cliente dos cuidados.

Abstract Background: The adjustment to pregnancy implies that those who experience it incorporate a set of skills for health promotion. The disciplinary knowledge supporting the identification of learning needs is still limited. Objective: To identify mothers' and fathers' learning needs to promote self-care during pregnancy. Methodology: Cross-sectional and qualitative study with 80 mothers and 20 fathers intending to become pregnant or with a previous or current pregnancy. Ethical principles were safeguarded. Interviews were conducted between January and June 2016. Data were subjected to content analysis (grounded analysis) using NVivo11. Results: The learning needs identified by mothers and fathers were divided into the following categories: preparing for pregnancy, adjusting to pregnancy, caring for oneself, caring for the baby (fetus), and ensuring health surveillance. Conclusion: Three domains of care needs emerged in the adjustment to pregnancy: body process, self-care/self-monitoring, and fetal health. Mothers and fathers have overlapping needs, so the couple can be considered a client of care.

Resumen Marco contextual: La adaptación al embarazo implica que quienes lo viven incorporan un conjunto de habilidades que permiten la promoción de la salud. Los conocimientos disciplinarios que apoyan la identificación de las necesidades de aprendizaje son todavía limitados. Objetivo: Identificar las necesidades de aprendizaje de las madres y los padres para la promoción del autocuidado durante el embarazo. Metodología: Estudio transversal y cualitativo. Los participantes fueron 20 padres y 80 madres con intención de quedarse embarazadas, que estaban embarazadas o que lo habían estado anteriormente. Se respetaron los principios éticos. Las entrevistas se realizaron entre enero y junio de 2016. Los datos se sometieron a un análisis de contenido (grounded analysis), para lo cual se recurrió a NVivo11. Resultados: Las necesidades de aprendizaje identificadas por las madres y los padres se clasificaron como prepararse para el embarazo; adaptarse al embarazo; cuidar de uno mismo; cuidar del bebé (feto); asegurar la vigilancia de la salud. Conclusión: Para adaptarse al embarazo, surgen tres ámbitos de necesidades de cuidados: proceso corporal, autocuidado/autovigilancia y salud fetal. Las necesidades identificadas en la madre y el padre se superponen, por lo que la pareja puede ser considerada como cliente de los cuidados.

Nursing diagnoses focused on universal self-care requisites.

AIMS: (1) To identify and analyse diagnoses documented by nurses in Portugal within the scope of universal self-care requisites; (2) to determine the main problems with nursing diagnoses syntaxes for semantic interoperability purposes; and (3) to suggest unified nursing diagnoses syntaxes within the scope of universal self-care requisites. BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION: Ageing societies and the increase in chronic diseases have led to significant concern regarding individuals' dependence to ensure self-care. ICNP is widely used by Portuguese nurses in electronic health records for documentation of nursing diagnoses and interventions. METHODS: A qualitative study using inductive content analysis and focus group: 1. nursing e-documentation content analysis and 2. focus group to explore implicit criteria or insights from content analysis results. RESULTS: From a corpus of analysis with 1793 nursing diagnoses, 432 nursing diagnoses centred on universal self-care requisites emerged from the content analysis. One hundred ten nursing diagnoses resulted from the application of new encoding criteria that emerged after a focus group meeting. CONCLUSION: Results reveal that nursing diagnoses related to universal self-care requisites can emphasize the impairment or potentialities of the individuals performing self-care. It also shows a lack of consensus on nominating the nursing diagnoses of people with a deficit in universal self-care requisites, resulting in different diagnoses to express the same needs. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Representation of most relevant nursing diagnoses within the scope of universal self-care requisites. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH POLICY: Incorporating standardized language into electronic health records is not enough for improving quality and continuity of care and semantic interoperability achievement. Electronic health records need to work with a nursing ontology in the backend to meet these requirements.

Potencialidades e limitações da atuação do enfermeiro no Centro Parto Normal / Potencialidades y limitaciones del desempeño de las enfermeras en el Centro Parto Normal / Potentialities and limitations of nurses performance in the Normal Birth Center

RESUMO Objetivo Conhecer as potencialidades e limitações da atuação do enfermeiro no Centro de Parto Normal (CPN). Método abordagem qualitativa, do tipo exploratório e descritivo, realizado em 2018, com seis enfermeiras atuantes em CPN intra-hospitalar público na região metropolitana de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil. A coleta das informações ocorreu por meio de entrevista individual, com análise a partir dos pressupostos da sociologia das profissões, com foco nos temas: conhecimento e autonomia; credencialismo; divisão do trabalho; mercado de trabalho e quadro de valores. Resultado A atuação do enfermeiro no CPN potencializa as boas práticas para o parto e nascimento, bem como amplia a importância e visibilidade deste profissional no cuidado materno-infantil. O cuidado clínico e a gestão emergem como foco da ação do enfermeiro no CPN. No entanto, mesmo com a indução do Estado para essa atuação, ainda há a necessidade de reconhecimento das competências e autonomia do enfermeiro no cuidado obstétrico por outros profissionais. Conclusão e implicações para a prática Há desafios que precisam ser superados como a ampliação da autonomia e do respeito ao credenciamento do enfermeiro para atuação no CPN e a harmonização entre a gestão do processo de trabalho e gestão do cuidado clínico por este profissional.

RESUMEN Objetivo Conocer las potencialidades y limitaciones del desempeño de la enfermera en el Centro de Parto Normal (CPN). Método Enfoque cualitativo, del tipo exploratorio-descriptivo, realizado en 2018, con seis enfermeras que trabajan en el CPN intrahospitalario público en la región metropolitana de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil. La recopilación de información se realizó mediante una entrevista individual, con análisis basado en los supuestos de la sociología de las profesiones, centrándose en los temas: conocimiento y autonomía; credencialismo; división del trabajo; mercado de trabajo y tabla de valores. Resultado El desempeño de la enfermera en la CPN mejora las buenas prácticas para el parto y el nacimiento, así como aumenta la importancia y la visibilidad de este profesional en el cuidado de la madre y el niño. El cuidado clínico y la gestión surgen como el foco de la acción de la enfermera en la CPN. Sin embargo, incluso con la inducción del Estado a esta acción, sigue siendo necesario que otros profesionales reconozcan las aptitudes y la autonomía de la enfermera en la atención obstétrica por otros profesionales. Conclusión e implicaciones para la práctica Hay desafíos que deben superarse, como el aumento de la autonomía y el respeto de la acreditación de las enfermeras para trabajar en la CPN y la armonización de la gestión del proceso de trabajo y la gestión de la atención clínica por parte de este profesional.

ABSTRACT Objective To know the potentialities and limitations of the nurse's performance in the Center for Normal Birth (CPN). Method Qualitative approach, exploratory-descriptive type, carried out in 2018, with six nurses working in public intra-hospital CPN in the metropolitan region of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. The collection of information occurred through individual interview, with analysis from the assumptions of the sociology of professions, focusing on the themes: knowledge and autonomy; credentialism; division of labor; labor market and value chart. Result The nurse's performance in the Center for Normal Birth (CPN)enhances good practices for childbirth and birth, as well as increases the importance and visibility of this professional in maternal and child care. Clinical care and management emerge as the focus of the nurse's action in the CPN. However, even with the induction of the State to this action, there is still the need for recognition of the competencies and autonomy of the nurse in obstetric care by other professionals. Conclusion and implications for practice There are challenges that need to be overcome such as the expansion of autonomy and respect for the accreditation of the nurse to work in the CPN and the harmonization between the management of the work process and management of clinical care by this professional.

Gaps in the knowledge and skills of Portuguese mothers associated with newborn health care.

OBJECTIVES: assess mothers' parenting knowledge and skills associated with the parental competence health promotion and monitoring for newborns and infants aged up to six months and determine the key characteristics of mothers who are better prepared for parenting. METHOD: cross-sectional study conducted in three health centers belonging to a Local Health Unit in the Northern Region of Portugal. Data was collected using clinical interviews conducted with pregnant women or mothers with a child aged up to six months. The tool used contained 21 child health promotion and monitoring indicators associated with different assessment moments: pregnancy, 1st/2nd week, 1st/2nd month, 3rd/4th month, and 5th/6th month. RESULTS: we assessed the knowledge and skills of 629 women. Learning needs were identified for each of the indicators. The mothers who were better prepared for parenting tended to have a higher level of schooling, resided with the child's father, had other children, had planned pregnancy, and intended to breastfeed. CONCLUSIONS: the results showed that knowledge and skills were lacking for each of the periods assessed by this study. First-time single mothers whose pregnancy was unplanned and who did not prepare themselves for parenthood may be considered a vulnerable group.

Gaps in the knowledge and skills of Portuguese mothers associated with newborn health care / Lacunas de conhecimentos e habilidades de mães portuguesas associados à saúde do recém-nascido / Lacunas de conocimientos y habilidades de madres portuguesas asociadas a la salud del recién nacido

ABSTRACT Objectives: assess mothers' parenting knowledge and skills associated with the parental competence health promotion and monitoring for newborns and infants aged up to six months and determine the key characteristics of mothers who are better prepared for parenting. Method: cross-sectional study conducted in three health centers belonging to a Local Health Unit in the Northern Region of Portugal. Data was collected using clinical interviews conducted with pregnant women or mothers with a child aged up to six months. The tool used contained 21 child health promotion and monitoring indicators associated with different assessment moments: pregnancy, 1st/2nd week, 1st/2nd month, 3rd/4th month, and 5th/6th month. Results: we assessed the knowledge and skills of 629 women. Learning needs were identified for each of the indicators. The mothers who were better prepared for parenting tended to have a higher level of schooling, resided with the child's father, had other children, had planned pregnancy, and intended to breastfeed. Conclusions: the results showed that knowledge and skills were lacking for each of the periods assessed by this study. First-time single mothers whose pregnancy was unplanned and who did not prepare themselves for parenthood may be considered a vulnerable group.

RESUMO Objetivos: Caracterizar o nível de conhecimentos e habilidades associadas à competência parental: promover e vigiar a saúde da criança, até aos seis meses de idade e, caracterizar o perfil das mães mais bem preparadas. Método: estudo transversal, realizado em três centros de saúde de uma Unidade Local de Saúde do Norte de Portugal. Para a seleção de dados foi realizada entrevista clínica a mulheres grávidas ou cujo filho tivesse até seis meses. O instrumento foi constituído por 21 indicadores relacionados com a promoção e a vigilância da saúde da criança, nos momentos - gravidez, 1ª-2ª semana, 1º-2º, 3º-4º e 5º-6º mês. Resultados: foram avaliados os conhecimentos e as habilidades de 629 mulheres. Foram identificadas necessidades de aprendizagem em todos os indicadores avaliados. As mães bem preparadas tinham maior nível de escolaridade; coabitavam com o pai do filho; já tinham outros filhos; a gravidez foi planejada e tinham intenção de amamentar. Conclusões: nos momentos em que foram avaliadas, as mães demonstraram falta de conhecimentos e de habilidades. Pode ser considerado um grupo vulnerável, as mães: solteiras, primíparas, cuja gravidez não foi planeada e sem preparação prévia

RESUMEN Objetivos: caracterizar el nivel de conocimientos y habilidades asociados a la competencia parental: promover y vigilar la salud de los niños, hasta los seis meses de edad; y caracterizar el perfil de las madres mejor preparadas. Método: estudio transversal realizado en tres centros de salud de una Unidad Local de Salud en el norte de Portugal. Para la recolección de datos, se realizó una entrevista clínica en mujeres embarazadas o cuyo hijo tenía hasta seis meses de edad. El instrumento fue constituido por 21 indicadores relacionados con la promoción y vigilancia de la salud del niño, en los momentos - embarazo, 1ª-2ª semana, 1º-2º, 3º-4º y 5º-6º mes. Resultados: se evaluaron los conocimientos y habilidades de 629 mujeres. Se han identificado necesidades de aprendizaje en todos los indicadores evaluados. Las madres bien preparadas tenían un mayor nivel de escolaridad; cohabitaban con el padre de su hijo; ya tenían otros hijos; el embarazo fue planeado y ellas tenían intención de amamantar. Conclusiones: en los momentos en que las madres fueron evaluadas, ellas mostraron falta de conocimientos y habilidades. Las madres solteras, primíparas, cuyo embarazo no fue planeado, y sin preparación previa, puede considerarse un grupo vulnerable.

Desafíos de la maternidad en la voz de las primíparas: dificultades iniciales / Desafios da maternidade na voz das primíparas: dificuldades iniciais / Challenges of motherhood in the voice of primiparous mothers: initial difficulties

Objective. To identify the main difficulties first-time mothers experience in the postpartum period, during the first six months of the baby's life. Methods. Level I qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study. The sample consisted of 11 first-time mothers of full-term healthy newborns. The data were collected through the "focus group" method. The mothers' discourse was subject to content analysis, categorizing the registry units. Results. Three categories emerged from the data analyzed that indicate the mothers' main difficulties in this period: postpartum recovery; baby care; marital relationship. Conclusion. The results indicate that, although motherhood is an event marked by positive emotions, the difficulties that emerge in the mothers' daily life can interfere negatively in the quality of parenthood. In this scenario, the nurses play a determinant role in the enhancement of interventions that are sensitive to these needs and that, at the same time, favor these mothers and their families' empowerment, thus optimizing the children's development trajectories. (AU)

Objetivo. Identificar las principales dificultades de las madres primíparas en el posparto y durante los primeros seis meses de vida del bebé. Métodos. Estudio cualitativo de nivel exploratorio-descriptivo. La muestra estuvo constituida por 11 madres primíparas de recién nacidos saludables a término. Se utilizó el grupo focal como método de recolección de los datos. Los discursos de las madres se sometieron a análisis de contenido, categorizando las unidades de registro. Resultados. Del análisis de los datos emergieron tres categorías indicadoras de las principales dificultades de las madres en este período: la recuperación del posparto, el cuidado del bebé, y la relación conyugal. Conclusión. Los resultados obtenidos indican que, a pesar de que la maternidad es un acontecimiento marcado por emociones positivas, las dificultades que surgen en el cotidiano de las madres pueden interferir negativamente en la calidad de la maternidad. Los enfermeros tienen, en este escenario, un papel determinante en la dinamización de intervenciones sensibles a estas necesidades y, simultáneamente, favorecedoras del empoderamiento de estas madres y de sus familias, lo que optimiza de este modo las trayectorias de desarrollo de sus hijos.(AU)

Objetivo. Identificar as principais dificuldades sentidas por mães primíparas no pós-parto, nos primeiros seis meses de vida do bebé. Métodos. Estudo qualitativo de nível I do tipo exploratório-descritivo. Amostra constituída por 11 mães primíparas de recém-nascido saudável de termo. Foi utilizado como o método de recolha de dado "Focus Group", sendo os discursos das mães sujeitos à análise de conteúdo, categorizando-se as unidades de registo. Resultados. Da análise dos dados emergiram três categorias indicadoras das principais dificuldades das mães neste período: a recuperação pós-parto; o cuidar do bebé; a relação conjugal. Conclusão. Os resultados obtidos indicam que, apesar da maternidade ser um acontecimento marcado por emoções positivas, as dificuldades que surgem no quotidiano das mães podem interferir negativamente na qualidade da parentalidade. Os enfermeiros têm, neste cenário, um papel determinante na dinamização de intervenções sensíveis a estas necessidades e, simultaneamente, favorecedoras do empowerment destas mães e de suas famílias, otimizando deste modo, as trajetórias de desenvolvimento das crianças.(AU)

Challenges of motherhood in the voice of primiparous mothers: initial difficulties.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the main difficulties first-time mothers experience in the postpartum period, during the first six months of the baby's life. METHODS: Level I qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study. The sample consisted of 11 first-time mothers of full-term healthy newborns. The data were collected through the "focus group" method. The mothers' discourse was subject to content analysis, categorizing the registry units. RESULTS: Three categories emerged from the data analyzed that indicate the mothers' main difficulties in this period: postpartum recovery; baby care; marital relationship. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that, although motherhood is an event marked by positive emotions, the difficulties that emerge in the mothers' daily life can interfere negatively in the quality of parenthood. In this scenario, the nurses play a determinant role in the enhancement of interventions that are sensitive to these needs and that, at the same time, favor these mothers and their families' empowerment, thus optimizing the children's development trajectories.