Abstract

MARRAMON, Raquel; LEVANDOWSKI, Daniela Centenaro  and  WENDLAND, Jaqueline. Experiences and perceptions of adolescent mothers regarding the baby's health care. Gerais, Rev. Interinst. Psicol. [online]. 2011, vol.4, n.2, pp. 215-227. ISSN 1983-8220.

This study intended to describe adolescent mothers' experiences regarding the baby's health care, in second month of life, and to be acquainted with their perceptions of that service. This is a qualitative and exploratory study, carried out with 10 primipara adolescent mothers living at Vale dos Sinos/RS, Brazil. They were contacted in basic health units and answered a semi structured interview. Good attendance to doctor's appointments scheduled for the baby, proximity of health care institutions as a facilitating factor to accessibility, the need for support beyond primary health care and little participation of babies' fathers in the appointments were observed. In addition, attention and self-confidence received and reinforced by health professionals, the need for a greater range of time availability for scheduling appointments and reduction of waiting time was noted in the statements of adolescent mothers. The importance of health institutions continual seeking of excellence in humanization of maternal-child care is highlighted.

Keywords : Child Health Services; Child Health; Health Care Quality Access Evaluation.

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