title: [Myths and taboos of motherhood: focusing on the health-disease process].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To learn about myths and taboos related with motherhood and their implications in the health/disease process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study carried out using a qualitative approach, in a natural setting, with women of poor classes who experienced motherhood. The selection of subjects was performed intentionally, and data collection was made by means of semi-structured interviews and participant observation at the moment those women were given healthcare attention. Data analysis followed the content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The topic under study permeates, as an ideology, the women's lives. The myths and taboos are related to health/disease: postpartum hygiene; protection of the newborn's integrity; menses; alternatives for a solution of health problems; and gender issues, the conducts the women follow to avoid becoming "saucy" being evidenced. In the research, it was possible to capture elements that translate the cultural values of the women's daily lives and the need for associating scientific knowledge with popular practices.
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS. familialuz@cpovo.net
authors.forename: Anna Maria Hecker
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Luz
authors.forename: Neiva Iolanda de Oliveira
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Berni
authors.forename: Lucilda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Selli
mesh_terms: D004194:Disease; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D013609:Taboo