Abstract
Objective
to understand the maternal representations in relation to the participation of the parents, who were trained or not through a protocol of care in the neonatal unit, in relation to the care of the premature child in the home environment.
Method
qualitative research carried out with mothers of premature infants whose companions participated or not in the protocol of child care in the hospital environment. The analysis was carried out through the Collective Subject Discourse.
Results
twenty-four mothers participated whose companions of 13 performed care and 11 did not. Six central ideas and two anchorages emerged that were grouped into two themes: Fatherly care in the hospital environment and its repercussions on home care; Barriers to fatherly care.
Conclusion and Implications for Practice
mothers represent paternal participation as positive, especially those whose partners participated in the protocol. However, it was observed that, in some situations, the non-participation was related to cultural influences and/or maternal barriers. In addition, the return to work and paternal fear were barriers to care, regardless of whether or not the father participated in the protocol. The paternal insertion in the care of the premature child in the hospital environment is essential for the improvement of the care for the baby and its family.
Keywords:
Premature Infant; Parents; Neonatal Nursing; Child Care; Neonatal Intensive Care Units