ISSN 2756-3812
International Journal of Medical Advances and Discovery ISSN 2756-3812 Vol. 2 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2011. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Experiences of two Brazilian families with the birth of premature extremely low-birth-weight infants up to five years of age: Use of narratives
Sylvia Maria Porto Pereira1,2,3,4, Maria Helena Cabral de Almeida Cardoso1
1Fernandes Figueira Institute, Post-Graduate Department, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
2Servidores do Estado Hospital, Neonatology Department, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
3Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – Martagão Gesteira Pediatrics Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
4Estácio de Sá University, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Accepted 10 November, 2010
Abstract
This study was carried out to know about the experiences of two Brazilian families with the birth of extremely premature infants up to five years of age. Participant observation and open interview were used as qualitative methodology. Tertiary teaching hospital, residences, schools and churches families attended. Fathers and mothers of two extremely premature infants assisted to Neonatal Unit, January/December 2001. There were 21 meetings, 14 for observation (30 hours, 90 field diary’s pages); seven for interviews (eight hours, 117 pages transcribed) . The analysis is by semiotic model. This report is presented as two narratives. Four great themes were identified by narratives: healthcare, parents’ stress, communication and support network. Gestational hypertension was a risk factor for extreme prematurity, prolonged neonatal care and families-neonates’ separation; mothers’ assistance at delivery room and first entry in Neonatal Unit had disrespected humanized care; parents’ stress was present at delivery room, first sight of the newborn at Neonatal Unit, at home, as child’s caregivers, with child©s morbidity, fear of death has always been present; communication was both positive and negative; nuclear/extended families, friends, health team and religion were the social support network’s elements. The narrative brought to debate relevant issues.
Keywords: Premature, family, intensive care unit, neonatal, narrative, qualitative research.