Voices of severe maternal morbidity: speechs of women who almost died during pregnancy, delivery or postpartum

Abstract

Maternal mortality is still a problem of public health in Brazil and throughout the last fifteen years, a significant reduction in the maternal mortality rate has not occurred. For the most part of the maternal deaths it is possible to identify the occurrence of delays in the implementation of appropriate measures for the confrontation of severe complications, and the combat to these delays is currently considered essential for the reduction of maternal mortality. In this context, women who survived to potentially fatal complications in the pregnant-puerperal cycle are considered good informants regarding the obstacles and delays faced for their survival. Objetives: To know the experiences of the women who had survived severe and acute complications during the pregnant-puerperal cycle. To identify delays and surpassed obstacles during a severe and acute maternal complications. Methods: A qualitative and exploratory study with semi-directed interviews will be carried out with women who have suffered severe and acute complications during pregnant-puerperal cycle. The women who will be studied are those who have changed the level of complexity in the health system during a potentially fatal complication, culminating in the admission in a specialized intensive care unit. Women with previous prenatal accompaniment in this hospital will be excluded. A total of 30 women will be included, being at least five with hypertensive complications, five women with hemorrhagic complications and five women with clinical complications. The literal transcription of the interviews will be analyzed for the identification of standards and subjects in common. It will be proposed categories of analysis to be used in the comparison between the interviews. The transcriptions will be compiled, organized and analyzed with the software The Ethnograph. (AU)