Healthcare itineraries of women with histories of hypertensive syndromes during pregnancy

Abstract

This paper aimed to analyze the healthcare itineraries of women with histories of hypertensive syndromes during pregnancy. The method used was to study oral reports, and the results from 35 interviews were grouped into four thematic categories: comprehension of health and illness; perceptions of risk; institutional interactions; affective and family interactions involved in seeking care. Multiple situations of vulnerability affect the care itinerary, including difficulties in accessing specialized services and relationships with healthcare professionals. Knowledge and healthcare practices shared within the community are important resources in constructing care, which can also be affected positively or negatively by the dynamics of interactions within the affective-family network and by the social support received.