Atuação de enfermeiros da Estratégia Saúde da Família para prevenção da depressão pós-parto.

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) is an event of intense emotional, cognitive, behavioral and physical change that interferes with the mother-child relationship and their relatives (BORDIGNON, 2011). According to the Ministry of Health, PPD affects between 10% and 15% of Brazilian women. Faced with this situation, the professional nurse should use of various means that the Family Health Strategy (ESF) provides with actions to be taken to address the woman and her family. Thus, this study aims to analyze the performance taken by nurses of the ESF in the city of Cajazeiras, PB to prevent PPD. A descriptive-exploratory study with a qualitative approach was conducted with 16 nurses working in the primary health care units of the city of Cajazeiras in February 2015. The data collected was acquired through interviews in a semi-structured format and registered by voice-recording the statements from the nurses. The data was analyzed using methods of content-analysis; and subsequently the items were categorized and presented in accordance with each of the categories. The ethical aspects of Resolution No. 466/2012 of the National Health Council (CNS) were followed, which regulates research involving human beings, ensuring the rights of the participants of the research in connection to their autonomy, confidentiality and anonymity of the information shared. The Ethics Research Committee (CEP) presented opinion in favor of the research, with opinion number 941.592. The discussions were organized into four categories: PPD preventive actions; opportunities to implement preventive actions; actionable strategies for prevention; and the difficulties and challenges in the prevention of PPD. The results points to a concern that prevention efforts practiced by the nurses may be superficial and not sufficient, especially when observing the strategies of the participation of the partner, the family support, and the guidance to women. The main opportunities highlighted for the practice were: the prenatal visits, the puerperal visit and the presence of risk factors common to PPD in connection to the overloading of tasks, and the lack of professional training in mental health, were cited as the main difficulties. The evidence points to the need for training and reorganization of functions for the good performance of the professional in the health practice with actions that contribute to the reduction of PPD.