Pais-filho
: as condicionantes da ligação

  • Lina Maria Reis da Silva Zeferino (Student)

Student thesis: Master's Thesis

Abstract

The parent-child connection is recognized as a focus of nursing and it is the central aspect of this study, since it directly influences the parental exercise, significantly interfering with the child’s development. Therefore, the nurse’s role is also to facilitate and promote the link between caregivers and the child, in order to promote their right development, which is only possible when the phenomenon is well and deeply known. The analysis of all the problems which affects the parent-child bond, in the context of a hospital Intensive Care Unit Newborn, is the object of study of this work. This is a qualitative multi-case study, which followed the grounded theory assumptions for the analysis of the results, allowing us to identify the behaviors which revealed the connection or the lack of it and also to characterize – according to the parents’ point of view - all the factors which influence the connection with their child all along the hospitalization period taking into account all the environmental characteristics, the baby, the professionals and other important aspects that they considered relevant. To do this, we used some methods of information collecting methods: the participant observation, the interviews and clinical process consultation. The participants were four fathers and four mothers of newborns with 28 weeks gestation or more and 900g or more, admitted in the Maternity Dr. Alfredo da Costa Intensive Care Unit Newborn. According to the results, we concluded that the parent-child bond concerns a process which is always in evolution over time of admission and it is influenced by aspects and significant moments, such as the pregnancy, the hospitalization experience and later on the moving to the Unit Intermediate Care. This process also means commitment, compromise and reciprocity, which also reveal changes over time and influence of different aspects and stages of their existence. We must underline and point out those aspects which are related with the need of constant parental involvement in the care of their children, or the need of relationship of trust between parents and professionals and also the need of a clear and suitable communication to their needs. We should also mention that the hospital and the sociocultural environment lived either as individual father / mother or as a couple influences the parent-child bond. We concluded that this is a complex process, with a lot of multifactors. Only when it is deeply known allows us to develop appropriate strategies according to the parents’ expectations and needs, in order to promote a child’s healthy and suitable development through positive parenting practices
Date of Award10 Jan 2013
Original languagePortuguese
Awarding Institution
  • Universidade Católica Portuguesa
SupervisorMargarida Maria Vieira (Supervisor) & Conceição Alegre (Co-Supervisor)

Designation

  • Mestrado em Enfermagem

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