Abstract
Considering the complexity of the Brazilian scenario regarding violence, especially those suffered by women and children, this article aims to discuss possible actions against violence, creating space for group dialogue. To this end, it describes an intervention conducted with eight pregnant women selected from a Family Health United who were divided into two groups (n = 4) addressing the stages of child development and possible measures to prevent child abuse based on two thematic blocks of two-hour weekly meetings: 1) Child Development; and 2) Appropriate Parenting Practices. To visualize possible influences of the meetings on the mothers’ knowledge, two extra days were added to the intervention for the application of two instruments in pre- and post-test and follow-up measures, and the results were compared with other mothers who did not undergo the intervention. Data consisted of questionnaires for evaluating the meetings and field notes. The conversations addressed issues on violence and the possibility of transformation in childcare. Although the instruments used in this study were not sensitive to the Brazilian reality, Group 1 performed better than Group 2, with low averages in the follow-up. The results highlight the importance of getting mothers acquainted with practices that promote adequate care for a safe child development.
Keywords:
Primary Health Care; Health Promotion; Maternal and Child Health Services; Family Health Strategy