This is a descriptive study that aimed to identify socio-demographic characteristics and health conditions of the mothers and the children cared by nurses in the strategy for mother and baby home in a basic Health Unit of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Data were collected from medical records of 421 children attended on a Basic Unit in 2009. We conducted univariate analysis of data using the software "Epi-info" version 3.5. The results showed that 70.6% of mothers were aged 20 to 35 years, 58.2% had undergone vaginal delivery, 5.0% showed abnormalities in the surgical scar, and 23.8% alteration in the breast. The companion and maternal grandmother were the social members that provided more support in the postpartum period. Regarding the newborns 52.5% had up to 7 days old, 90.3% were exclusively breastfed, 16.2% had jaundice, and 3.8% presented abnormalities in the umbilical stump. We conclude that the evaluation of the chosen group provides important information for nurses and, thus, being able to give an efficient support to the mothers in the care of newborns and contributing to the bonding of mothers with this professional, and the adoption of health promotion practices.
Maternal and child health; Primary health care; Mother-Child Relations; Nursing
