title: Experiences of motherhood: Unmet expectations of immigrant and native mothers, about the Portuguese health system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to identify the unmet expectations of Portuguese and immigrant women, for the National Health System, during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study, using semi structured interviews and content analysis proposed by Bardin, with the categorization of verbatim interviews of 82 Portuguese and immigrant women, supported by NVivo 10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Major emerging categories of unmet expectations referred to the accessibility, human resources, incentives to maternity, physical and environmental conditions, and organization of the health system. There was a greater representation of dashed expectations among immigrant users when compared to Portuguese women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The areas of greatest shortage in meeting the needs of users are: surveillance by experts in the health centre and maternity hospital; reduced waiting time for pregnant women in consultations; home visits; more incentives to maternity; longer duration of hospitalization; higher number of professionals and presence of a companion with the parturient.
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Saúde de Viseu, CI&DETS, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Viseu, Portugal. Electronic address: ecoutinhoessv@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emília
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.affiliation: Centro Hospitalar Tondela Viseu, EPE, Viseu, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Saúde de Viseu, CI&DETS, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Viseu, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Alcione
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Saúde de Viseu, CI&DETS, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Viseu, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Enfermagem do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vitória
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parreira
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D036801:Parturition; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011174:Portugal; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: Expectations; Immigration; Maternity; National Health Service; Satisfaction; Transition