Excess weight and gestational self-care in primary care: a qualitative analysis according to Orem
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/reuerj.2026.94005Keywords:
Nursing, Primary Health Care, Pregnant People, Overweight, Self CareAbstract
Objective: to analyze the views, barriers, and facilitators related to self-care in overweight pregnant women, based on Orem's Theory, in Primary Health Care. Method: qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study, conducted with 17 overweight pregnant women in a health unit in northern Brazil, between November 2023 and January 2024. Data collected through semi-structured interviews and subjected to thematic content analysis, guided by Orem's theoretical framework. The research protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee. Results: Three categories emerged: " Universal self-care deficits: dietary routine during pregnancy", "Universal self-care deficits: physical activity and leisure during pregna", and " Developmental self-care deficits: the implications of gestational obesity". Final considerations: The perceptions reveal barriers and potential facilitators of self-care, reinforcing the need for strategies in primary care that support overweight pregnant women.
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