Congenital malformations occur due to genetic, environmental, and mixed factors or unknown causes. This study aimed to investigate the existence of a relationship between the type of congenital malformation and maternal and neonatal variables. This prospective, quantitative study was conducted in three public neonatal units in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Data were collected from the medical records of 159 malformed neonates and analyzed using the Chi-square test (χ2), significance level of 5% (p<0.05). The majority of the newborns were male, 85 (53%), 91 (57%) born full-term, and 82 (52%) weighed between 2500g and 3999g. Malformations of the central nervous and musculoskeletal systems exceeded the other categories. Variables such as gender, gestational age, birth weight, drug use, maternal age, family income, education level, and number of children showed statistically significant associations with the categories of malformations (p<0.05). Maternal and neonatal factors have close relationships with the type of malformation, with these data providing support for neonatal nursing care.

Objective:to analyze the anxiety level of the mothers of newborns with congenital malformations who were diagnosed in prenatal and postnatal care. Methods:a cross-sectional study with 115 mothers of 117 newborns with congenital malformation admitted to three neonatal units. A questionnaire containing maternal and neonatal variables was used, as well as the Trait-State Anxiety Inventory. Data were analyzed by Student’s t-test and Kolmogorov-Sminorv test. The anxiety level was categorized as low (percentile <25), moderate (25-75) and high (> 75), with a significance level of 5%. Results:most mothers had moderate levels of anxiety. Regarding the diagnosis of the malformation, 57% received the news in the prenatal and 43% in the postnatal period. The anxiety level of those who received the prenatal diagnosis was lower than those who received in the postnatal period, evaluated by the Trait Anxiety Inventory (p = 0.026). Conclusion:mothers of newborns with malformations presented moderate anxiety, and this was higher when the diagnosis was given in the postnatal period. The use of the Trait-State Anxiety Inventory can provide guidance to other studies and to clinical practice.

Terapêuticas utilizadas em recém-nascidos com malformações congênitas internados em unidade neonatalTherapies for neonates with congenital malformations admitted to a neonatal unit Terapéuticas utilizadas en recién nacidos con malformaciones congénitas internados en unidad neonatal

Objetivou-se compreender a experiência de ser pai de recém-nascido prematuro internado em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal. Estudo descritivo qualitativo, realizado em um hospital público de Fortaleza-Ceará-Brasil, em 2008. Dezesseis pais participaram da entrevista, a partir de um instrumento semiestruturado. Os resultados foram analisados e organizados em duas temáticas, com as respectivas categorias: experiência paterna (alegria, confiança, indecisão, medo), dúvidas e expectativas (sequela, sobrevivência e alta). Apesar do medo diante da hospitalização, demonstraram satisfação ante a possibilidade de sobrevida do bebê. Descreveram sentimentos de indecisão, confiança na equipe e medo, quando relataram a experiência de ser pai de prematuro. Suas maiores dúvidas e expectativas foram quanto às sequelas, à sobrevivência e à previsão de alta hospitalar de seus filhos. Evidenciou-se a importância da interação entre pai e filho na unidade neonatal, de modo a resgatar o papel de pai cuidador para facilitar a adaptação e reestruturação familiar.