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How do mothers feel? Life with children with congenital Zika syndrome
Author(s) -
Freitas Paula S.S.,
Soares Gabriella B.,
Mocelin Helaine J.S.,
Lamonato Larissa C.X.L.,
Sales Carolina M.M.,
LindeArias Ana R.,
Bussinger Elda C.A.,
Maciel Ethel L.N.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.13044
Subject(s) - medicine , poverty , feeling , social inequality , prejudice (legal term) , social stigma , inequality , stigma (botany) , social isolation , social support , quality of life (healthcare) , qualitative research , developmental psychology , nursing , psychiatry , family medicine , psychology , social psychology , economic growth , mathematical analysis , mathematics , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , social science , sociology , economics
Objective To describe the repercussions, from the perspectives of caregiver mothers, of confirmed congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) in their offspring. Methods A descriptive‐exploratory study with a qualitative approach was carried out in the state of Espírito Santo in southeastern Brazil, with 25 women who had a child diagnosed with CZS. Results Emerging themes from the content analysis were grouped into two categories: (1) inequalities experienced by mothers, including social inequality, poverty, and gender inequality; (2) the impact of a child with CZS on mothering, including feelings at the time of diagnosis, maternal isolation and mental health, experiences of stigma and prejudice, and exhausting itineraries searching for therapeutic care. Conclusion The repercussions of CZS were a huge burden on already vulnerable women, and social inequalities and poverty were important markers in the mothers’ reports. Many of the families affected by CZS already lived in precarious social conditions and these conditions were exacerbated further. Robust public and social policies to support these mothers need effective implementation given that babies born with CZS need long‐term care and support.