Aiwã se Mimbira: an experience report on the care-producing networks in the mothering process in an Amazonian scenario

Abstract

Abstract

Health promotion is one of the fundamental strategies in the field of health within the Unified Health System (SUS), especially in the context of Primary Health Care (PHC). It operates in the capacity building and empowerment of the community, mainly through health education practices, with the aim of mitigating social vulnerabilities and improving the quality of life and health of the population. Thus, particularly in maternal and child health care, health promotion and care initiatives during prenatal care in PHC contribute to ensuring that pregnant women receive quality care practices, with a welcoming approach and comprehensive care for both mother and baby. Therefore, the objective of this report is to describe the health promotion practices, with a focus on health education, experienced within the context of an extension project in PHC aimed at women in the pregnancy and postpartum period, both indigenous and non-indigenous. This is a qualitative work in the form of an experience report, carried out between June and September 2024, in the health spaces of the family health units (FHU) within the PHC territories of the Tarumã-Açu neighborhood in the city of Manaus, Amazonas. The meetings addressed relevant topics for the gestational period as well as the postpartum period, such as clinical signs of labor, quality of mental health during pregnancy, oral hygiene education, and the need for healthy nutrition. Beyond that, these were also spaces for each pregnant woman to share and discuss their experiences with others, creating a protected and supportive environment for the mothers. Therefore, the health promotion activities highlighted the importance of the integration between education, services, and the community, and showed the positive effects of the meetings with pregnant women, as they brought them closer to the health team and academic members, strengthening the bond and contributing to the autonomy of these women in their care process during pregnancy.