General practice of teenage mothers caring for their children

Objective: To identify and describe popular practices of teenage mothers caring for their children during the first six month after birth. Methods: A qualitative approach was used with six teenage mothers from the city of Cambe, PR. Data were collected through semistructured interviews from February to April 2007. Interviews were conducted in the participants' home in four different times (one week, one month, four months, and six months after the birth). Results: Findings suggested that teenage mothers use popular practices that were part of their family and community culture when caring for their children. These popular practices included cross breast-feeding, teas, syrups, and blessing's plays to treat adverse events, and popular beliefs regarding the umbilical stump, hiccups, and sleeping pattern. Conclusion: Health professionals must be aware of practices and beliefs of teenage mothers in order to plan quality care to the mother-child binomial.