PERCEPTIONS, MEANINGS AND PRACTICES OF MOTHERS OF CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM

Autores

  • Meline Ivone Oliveira Celestino Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health
  • Milena Pereira Pondé Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health
  • Jorge Alberto Bernstein Iriart Federal University of Bahia
  • Samuel Bezerra Machado Junior Bahia School of Medicine and Public Health
  • Juliane Penalva Costa Serra Bahia School of Medicine and Public Health

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17267/2317-3386bjmhh.v1i2.241

Palavras-chave:

Perceptions, Parents, Autism, Social support

Resumo

This was a qualitative study in which semistructured interviews were used to collect data.  The mothers of autistic children with milder symptoms tend to be more optimistic and emphasize the positive aspects of their children, whereas mothers of children with more severe symptoms talked of the particularly disabling symptoms of their child. With respect to the cause of the problem, the mothers’ reference to organic reasons is a recurrent feature of the interviews. No explanatory model of autism other than that derived from biomedical knowledge was provided in this study. The limitations imposed by autistic children on the lives of their mothers were part of all the narratives, most particularly those of the mothers of children with more severe symptoms. Social support and the identification of a network with which to share experiences and the suffering of their children appear to minimize the effects of isolation in these mothers.

Biografia do Autor

  • Meline Ivone Oliveira Celestino, Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health

    Undergraduate medical student, Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health (BAHIANA). Recipient of an undergraduate research fellowship from the Bahia Foundation for the Development of Science (FBDC).

  • Milena Pereira Pondé, Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health

    Adjunct Professor, Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health (BAHIANA).

  • Jorge Alberto Bernstein Iriart, Federal University of Bahia

    Adjunct Professor, Collective Health Institute, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA).

  • Samuel Bezerra Machado Junior, Bahia School of Medicine and Public Health

    Undergraduate medical student, Bahia School of Medicine and Public Health (BAHIANA).  Recipient of a scientific initiation grant from the Bahia Foundation for the Support of Research (FAPESB).

  • Juliane Penalva Costa Serra, Bahia School of Medicine and Public Health
    Undergraduate medical student, Bahia School of Medicine and Public Health (BAHIANA).  Recipient of an undergraduate research fellowship from the Bahia Foundation for the Development of Science (FBDC).

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Publicado

2013-09-07

Edição

v. 1 n. 2 (2013)

Seção

Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health's Research Groups Brief Report

Licença

A partir da submissão do artigo, entende-se como automática a cessão dos direitos autorais para a Revista, uma vez tendo sido aprovado e aceito para publicação.