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. 2018 Sep 12;15(1):154.
doi: 10.1186/s12978-018-0594-4.

"Babies born early?" - silences about prematurity and their consequences

Maria J O Miele  1 , Rodolfo C Pacagnella  2 , Maria J D Osis  1   3 , Carina R Angelini  1   4 , Jussara L Souza  5 , José G Cecatti  1
Affiliations

"Babies born early?" - silences about prematurity and their consequences

Maria J O Miele et al. Reprod Health. .

Abstract
in English, Spanish, Portuguese

Background: 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.

Methods: This 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.

Results: The 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.

Conclusion: There 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.

Introducción: El objetivo principal de este estudio fue comprender cómo se produce la comunicación entre los padres y los profesionales de la salud con respecto a la prematuridad, desde el nacimiento hasta la admisión en la Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo neonatal.

Métodos: Este es un estudio exploratorio, descriptivo-cualitativo. Los datos fueron recolectados mediante la grabación de entrevistas y el uso de la técnica de Grupos Focales con madres de recién nacidos prematuros y profesionales de la salud involucrados en el cuidado de bebés prematuros, en el sudeste de Brasil.

Resultados: La palabra “prematuro” no se dijo ni escuchó durante la atención prenatal. A partir de las narrativas, se observó falta de disponibilidad de información sobre el nacimiento prematuro, la ausencia de atención médica en relación con los signos y síntomas notificados por las mujeres embarazadas y la falta de comunicación entre los equipos médicos, las madres y la familia durante el parto y la admisión a la Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal (UCIN).

Conclusión: Hay una línea muy fina entre nacer demasiado pronto y morir demasiado pronto, lo que aumenta el estrés, el miedo y la distancia impactando negativamente sobre la comunicación entre las madres y los profesionales de la salud durante la atención prenatal, el parto y la admisión en la UCIN.

Introdução: O objetivo principal deste estudo foi compreender como ocorre a comunicação entre pais e profissionais de saúde sobre a prematuridade, desde o parto até a internação na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal.

Método: Trata-se de um estudo exploratório, descritivo e com metodologia qualitativa. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista gravada, utilizando a técnica de Grupos Focais com mães de recém-nascidos prematuros e profissionais de saúde envolvidos no atendimento de prematuros no sudeste do Brasil.

Resultados: A palavra “prematuridade” não foi dita ou ouvida durante o pré-natal. Das narrativas, observou-se a falta de informações disponível às gestantes sobre parto prematuro, falhas na assistência médica quanto aos sinais e sintomas relatados pelas gestantes e falhas na comunicação entre as equipes médicas e as mães e familiares durante o parto e Admissão em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UTIN).

Conclusão: Há uma linha tênue entre nascer ou morrer antes da hora, o que aumenta o estresse, o medo e a distância, afetando negativamente a comunicação entre mães e profissionais de saúde durante o pré-natal, o parto e a internação na UTIN.

Keywords: Health literacy; Preterm birth; Qualitative research.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the State University of Campinas under number 005742/2015. All participants signed a Free Informed Consent Term (TCLE). Participants were identified by fictitious names in transcriptions to ensure confidentiality of their identity.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The two sets of categories identified in the FGs and their contents regarding information concern premature birth during the prenatal care
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The two sets at categories identified in the FGs and their report about the prevention during the prenatal care
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The two sets of categories identified in the FGs and their contents about support and understand regarding the childbirth
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The sets of categories and contents related to the first contact between parents and premature newborn at the NICU admission
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
The sets of categories and contents reported by the groups regarding their perception about the mother’s access to their child
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
The sets of categories and the description of emergent contents related to NICU and the distance of opinions and perceptions
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
The sets of categories and contents referred by the groups demonstrating the distance of communication about parent understanding
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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