OBJECTIVE: To characterize and describe home care to the premature baby provided by mothers or other caretakers. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was used. Seven caretakers were interviewed in their homes. The data were collected through semi-structured interview and analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: The emerged categories were: caring for the premature baby at home; living and interacting with the premature baby; and, the importance of social support in caring for the premature baby. CONCLUSIONS: The mothers, as caretakers, provided proper care to the premature baby, expressed concerns regarding the baby's development and growth, and voiced the need of support to deliver proper care.
Infant premature; Infant care; Caregivers; Mother-child relations