Abstract

Objective To analyze child care among primiparous and multiparous women in the first 42 days after childbirth. Method Longitudinal study with 357 postpartum women and their children. Interviews were conducted at the public maternity hospital and at 42 days after childbirth. Descriptive analyzes were used, as well as Q-square test and p < 0.05. Results There was a statistical association was found between age group (p < 0.0001), schooling (p < 0.0001) and parity. Primiparity among young women (78.3%) and schooling ≥ 8 years (85.3%), having a partner (p = 0.039), paid occupation (42.5%) and upper and middle classes (22%). Almost all women from both groups had exclusively breastfed in the maternity hospital (p = 0.071), but 57.3% of the primiparous mothers had abandoned breastfeeding after 42 days and they had more problems in breastfeeding in the maternity hospital (p = 0.001) and after discharge (p = 0.007), when compared to multiparous women. Difficulties in caring for the newborn were more frequent among primiparous (79.7%) than multiparous mothers (65.6%) use of herbal baths against jaundice (46.4%), maternal milk against conjunctivitis (52.6%) and sleeping together with the baby (38.8%) were more common among multiparous women, the use of non-recommended substances in the umbilical cord stump (37.5%) and tea against abdominal colic (49%), as indicated by relatives, (82.6%) were more common among primiparous women. Conclusion Child care among primiparous mothers has shown to be more fragile in some aspects when compared to multiparous mothers, but each group has its singularity and must receive comprehensive care, despite the different conditions of parity.

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