Health professionals mothers’ perceptions about relationships in the neonatal unit

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12957/reuerj.2023.74432

Keywords:

Critical Care, Health Personnel, Professional-Family Relations, Maternal Behavior, Intensive Care Units, Neonatal

Abstract

Objective: to discuss the perceptions of mothers who are health professionals about relationships in the neonatal unit. Method: a qualitative study, based on Symbolic Interactionism, with 11 mothers of preterm newborns who are health professionals. After approval by the Research Ethics Committee, data was collected from May yo October 2021, through individual interviews, and subjected to thematic content analysis. Results: despite the mothers being health professionals, relationships in the neonatal unit were difficult, painful, uncomfortable, and restrictive to the process of 'being and becoming a mother'. They revealed feelings of not belonging to care and of being away from their children. Conclusion: the relationships between mothers and health professionals working in the neonatal unit were marked by suffering, limitations, and discomfort, and were lacking in collaborative process, going against Family-Centered Care.

Author Biographies

Allison Scholler de Castro Villas Boas, Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Enfermeira. Mestre. Universidade Federal de São Carlos. São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.

Isabela Corasini, Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Enfermeira. Universidade Federal de São Carlos. São Carlos, São Paulo, Brasil.

Maria Aparecida Bonelli, Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Enfermeira. Mestre. Universidade Federal de São Carlos. São Carlos, São Paulo, Brasil. 

Ana Izaura Basso Oliveira, Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Enfermeira. Doutora. Universidade Federal de São Carlos. São Carlos, São Paulo, Brasil. 

Gabriele Petruccelli, Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Enfermeira. Universidade Federal de São Carlos. São Carlos, São Paulo, Brasil. 

Monika Wernet, Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Enfermeira. Doutora. Professora Adjunta. Universidade Federal de São Carlos. São Carlos. São Paulo, Brasil. 

Published

2023-12-14

How to Cite

1.
Villas Boas AS de C, Corasini I, Bonelli MA, Oliveira AIB, Petruccelli G, Wernet M. Health professionals mothers’ perceptions about relationships in the neonatal unit. Rev. enferm. UERJ [Internet]. 2023 Dec. 14 [cited 2025 Jul. 27];31(1):e74432. Available from: https://www.e-publicacoes.uerj.br/enfermagemuerj/article/view/74432

Issue

Section

Research Articles

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