Pregnancy experiences and support network of women linked to universities in Rio de Janeiro
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30681/2526101014180Keywords:
Information; Pregnancy; Childbirth; Qualitative study.Abstract
Objective: to evaluate the gestational experiences of a support network of women active in universities in Rio de Janeiro. Method: a descriptive and qualitative study whose data were collected via focus groups, conducted between 2018 and 2024. The sample included women from the academic community of two federal universities in Rio de Janeiro who had experienced childbirth. The content analysis technique proposed by Bardin was used for data analysis. Results: three categories were identified: informational support, psycho-emotional support, and lack of support. Informational support proved to be a decisive factor in reorienting naturalized trajectories. However, the support network proved to be ambiguous: its existence does not guarantee care and may even cause suffering if there is misinformation or low sensitivity. Conclusion: the support network in pregnancy constitutes a complex relational phenomenon, whose effectiveness is linked to its quality and sensitivity. While qualified networks promote the flow of information, autonomy, and safer birth experiences, their fragility or absence intensifies suffering and insecurity, reinforcing the centrality of human relationships in gestational care.
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