Promoção do desenvolvimento funcional de crianças nascidas prematuras: organização das bases teóricas e operacionais e construção de um guia de apoio à família

Abstract

Introduction: The child development process is dynamic and influenced by the interaction of biological and environmental factors, which can act as risk factors or protection factors. Promoting development strategies can minimize the risks and maximize protection, to support an appropriate care. This is especially important for vulnerable children, such as preterm newborn, because the prematurity is a predictor factor for alterations or delays in the development. Objective: To systematize the theoretical and the operational bases of care of preterm children, to compose and to validate a health educational material for the promotion of functional development of them. Method: this is a methodological study, with mixed approach, exploratory and analytical ones. Through an integrative review of the literature about functional development of premature children, and from a qualitative study with preterm children relatives, it was organized, a theoretical and operational guideline of care in order to promote a better development of preterm children. The educational material was submitted to caregivers and professionals-judges for validation through participatory strategies. The judges selected by “lattes platform”, answered to a webquestionnaire, or have been participated of a focus group about the theme. Family caregivers, guests that work in premature follow-up services, have also participated of the focus groups. The theoretical references were Bioecological Theory of Human Development and the Popular Education and Health. Qualitative data were submitted to a content analysis and the quantitative data were submitted to descriptive analysis; It was defined a rate concordance as 80%. Results: The study included 53 professionals, being 45 of them from health area and 9 from communication and education area, and 16 caregivers. The educational material was widely accepted; it was validated by health professionals, and family caregivers. These people reported interest in applying it on their practice and to share it with other relatives. It has not reached 80% of agreement among professionals in the fields of education and communication, which presented some considerations about the graphic design. Its title – “History of Sofia: Battles and achievements of family in the care and in the development of preterm children”, it was considerate as representative of the family experiences, as well as its content was deemed informative, useful and complete. All caregivers and the majority of the professionals highlighted the pullout- Table of functional skills- as the principal innovation and the main source of information for continuous use in the monitoring and promotion of child development. Children relatives considered the language of the material clear and accessible, and that it is real the content of the material in relation to their experiences, and key issues in relation to the theme, then covering, a gap related to the care of preterm children development. In addition, they reported that the process of validation of the material was an important to change experiences. Participants recommended summarizing some information, which was done in the final version of the material. Conclusions: The theoretical framework and the methodological strategies seems to be robust and consistent to identify the content that compose the educational material, as well as its validation. This educational material seems to give an important support for families in promoting the development of preterm infants.