ABSTRACT
Objective:
to understand the transition to parenthood of parents who had a newborn hospitalized due to congenital syphilis.
Method:
a qualitative study performed with thirteen mothers and four fathers of newborns hospitalized because of congenital syphilis, in rooming-in and the neonatal unit of a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro between September 2014 and May 2015 using the Life Narrative method and thematic analysis.
Results:
in the theme “the discovery of being a mother/father of a newborn child with congenital syphilis and the impact of the diagnosis in the parenting construction “ it was verified that the parents were aware that their child could be hospitalized for congenital syphilis, blaming the vertical transmission of syphilis and the fear of suffering stigma. In the theme “experience of transitions to parenthood due to the hospitalization of the child with congenital syphilis”, it was identified that parenthood was an experience considered good, happy and filled with resilience, however the child´s hospitalization triggered suffering and stress. Family support and nursing care were facilitating aspects of the transition to parenthood, which provided parents with new knowledge and the ability to reformulate their identities.
Conclusion:
nurses have an essential role in caring for parents who experience transitions to parenthood due to hospitalization of the child with congenital syphilis, they also have an essential role in strengthening the mother-father-newborn bond, empowering parents to provide parental care and prevent the reinfection of syphilis.
DESCRIPTORS:
Congenital syphilis; Hospitalization; Parenting; Nursing; Transitional care
