title: [Representations of mothers about the hospitalization of their premature child].
abstract: Qualitative study aimed at knowing the representations of mothers about the hospitalization of their premature son in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The sample was composed of eighteen mothers of premature newborns hospitalized in a school hospital in Natal, Brazil. A semi-structured interview was used and data analysis showed that hospitalization of a child is represented by the mothers as meanings, feelings, difficulties and uncertainties. It is considered that prematurity represents a maternal challenge from the moment of the premature birth, proceeding with disturbances inherent to hospitalization. These require awareness, listening and dialogue on the part of health professionals in an effective manner in order to strengthen maternal adaptation to prematurity.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Programa de Pós-Graduação do Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Natal, RN.
authors.forename: Nilba Lima
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Ana Cristina Pinheiro Fernandes
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Iris do Céu Clara
authors.initials: Ido C
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Jovanka Bittencourt Leite
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Maria de Lourdes Costa
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult