Desafios e experiências de mães surdas de filhos ouvintes desde a gestação no cuidado em saúde: estudo qualitativo

Abstract

The objective of this study was to understand the experiences and challenges faced by deaf mothers during pregnancy in the general and oral health care of their children. An exploratory study with a qualitative approach was developed. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (protocol 59868722.5.0000.5149). 15 deaf mothers, with children up to 11 years of age, participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were carried out, applied to deaf mothers, users of the Brazilian Sign Language (Libras). A convenience sample obtained by a snowball strategy was used. An invitation video translated into Libras was published on social media, inviting deaf mothers to participate in the research. Interested mothers were contacted and the interview was scheduled. The interviews were carried out by a Libras interpreter researcher, through the Google Meet platform. The interviews were recorded and transcribed by the researcher. The coding process obtained 390 thematic citations, organized into 16 codes, grouped into four categories: family support network, professional support network, access and personal experience. The Bardin content analysis method was adopted. The Atlas.ti software was used to assist in the content analysis process. The analysis was carried out in three stages: (1) inclusion of data in the software, reading and inductive analysis with elaboration of descriptive codes; (2) grouping of codes into general categories; (3) elaboration of relationship networks. The challenges highlighted by the participants were the difficulty in communicating with health professionals, lack of knowledge about their children's oral health care, access to dental care in cases of emergency with toothache and trauma. There was also a great influence of the family group in offering pacifiers and bottles. All participants highlighted the difficulty of finding a support network from the family to health services. Some mothers sought external strategies to acquire health information. Cesarean section birth was the most reported among the mothers interviewed, although the least desired by them. It was concluded that deaf mothers face major challenges in caring for their children, highlighting difficulties in communication and inclusive access to services.