ABSTRACT
This qualitative study aimed to understand how healthcare professionals of public hospitals deal with the case of mothers who decided to give their child up for adoption. Interviews were conducted with seven healthcare professionals. The professionals related that most of the women who gave their children up for adoption were from low-income conditions and they had not done a good prenatal care during pregnancy. The interviews also evidenced their attempts to convince mothers to renounce giving their children up for adoption, besides their perception that they do not have preparation to deal with such cases. Therefore, it is necessary to bring this theme into discussion in the health care teams, as well as including Psychology and Social Services professionals in the team, so that follow-up of the pregnant and puerperal women can be accomplished.
Keywords:
adoption; motherhood; women's rights; health professionals