MATERNAL EXPERIENCES AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS OF CONGENITAL INFANT HEART DISEASE IN THE CHILD WITH DOWN SYNDROME

Abstract

Objective: to understand the experiences of mothers of children with Down Syndrome after the diagnosis of congenital heart disease. Method: exploratory and descriptive, qualitative study, conducted through semi-structured interviews with nine mothers of children with Down Syndrome and Congenital Heart Disease, with data treated by Bardin's thematic content analysis, in the light of the theoretical framework of the Theory of Social Representations. Results: the main category "Maternal experiences after the diagnosis of congenital heart disease in children with Down Syndrome" was composed of four subcategories, which portrayed the challenges faced by mothers, from the communication of the diagnosis, emotional reactions, motherhood and treatment of the condition. Final considerations: the maternal experience with a child with both diagnoses proved challenging, with an accumulated experience of suffering.