title: [Fetal heart disease and coping strategies].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the coping strategies of women facing a diagnosis of fetal heart disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We interviewed 50 women who had received a diagnosis of fetal heart disease. For data collection we used a semi-directed and Coping Strategy Inventory. The interview was conducted, on average, 22 days after the diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When asked how they felt about the baby, 56.0% reported concern and fragility, while the remaining 44.0% said they were happy and well. The strategies most used by women were problem solving (73.0%), social support (69.1%) and escape/avoidance (62.7%), and the least used strategy was removal (17.3%). It was found that women with partners, as well as those with 1 or 2 children, used more the problem-solving strategy (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The active coping strategies, focused on problem solving and seeking social support, coupled with the responsibility and the need for specific care for the survival and welfare of the baby, brought about a closer relationship with the pregnancy, strengthening the maternal-fetal bond.
authors.affiliation: Diretora Técnica de Serviço de Saúde da Divisão de Psicologia do Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Gláucia Rosana Guerra
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Benute
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nonnenmacher
authors.forename: Luiz Flávio Mendes
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: Lilian Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Mara Cristina Souza
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lucia
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zugaib
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases; D006331:Heart Diseases; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult