IMMEDIATE PUERPERIUM DURING THE PANDEMIC: WOMEN’S ORAL HISTORY IN THE LIGHT OF OBSTETRIC CARE MODELS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the immediate puerperium experience of women during the COVID-19 pandemic in a public maternity hospital in Curitiba/PR in southern Brazil. Method: A qualitative study, following the Thematic Oral History methodological framework. The setting was a high-risk maternity-school. Data collection took place through a semi-structured, audio-recorded, on-site interview, from October to December 2021, with analysis of results following the Thematic Oral History method, which comprises the phases of transcription, textualization and transcreation. Results: Nine women in immediate puerperium participated, with varied professions and aged between 25 and 34 years. Relevant topics were: “Maternity in a context of risk”, which deals with emotional aspects related to the pandemic, health care during the pandemic and care actions against COVID-19; “Physical and symbolic perceptions of breastfeeding”, which involves feelings, manifestations in the body and the symbolic of breastfeeding; “Achieve: direct and indirect transitive verb”, which talks about women’s power of personal transformation; and “Nuances of care”, which addresses the (in)delicacies of the care received. Conclusion: The experience of immediate puerperium in hospital environments during the pandemic transversely went beyond aspects of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, revealing elements not related to the pandemic and others, such as fear of contamination specific to the pandemic context. Talking about their experience is an opportunity to expose feelings and align thoughts about their reality. Characteristics of childbirth care models orbiting between technocratic and humanized were observed, demonstrating aspects to be overcome by health professionals and worked with women.