Resumen

BARROS, Sibelle Maria Martins de  y  TRINDADE, Zeidi Araujo. “Premature” motherhood: A phychosociological investigation in a neonatal intensive care unit. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2007, vol.8, n.2, pp.253-269. ISSN 1645-0086.

Having a premature baby interned in a Neonatal ICU is generally considere d a difficult and unexpected moment for many women. To understand such an experience, the present work attempted to apprehend the social representations of mother hood and fatherhood among mothers with interned premature baby in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Semi-structured interviews with seven mothers in a public hospital in state of Espírito Santo (Brazil) were conducted, and then submitted to content analysis. The results indicated the recurrence to traditional models of the parental roles, which contributed to an overburden of responsibility for the mothers. It was, though, observed, that the attempt by some fathers for a closer relation with the child was discouraged by some mothers. This study highlights the need to rescue and understand the psychological universe of the mothers, inserting the fathers in this context, since little is known about how fathers understand and cope this delicate period. The results evidenced also the need for new assistance models, sustained by constant critical reflection by the professionals about their own representation s and practices in this context, in order not to direct care and responsibilities solely to the mothers.

Palabras clave : High-risk Premature newborn; Maternity; Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); Paternity; Social representations.

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