Psychological and relational meanings of the experience of motherhood with toxoplasmosis

Abstract With the purpose of understanding the psychological and relational meanings of the experience of motherhood in the face of toxoplasmosis, a clinical-qualitative study was carried out performing semi-directed interviews with five mothers of babies with toxoplasmosis. The information was submitted to Content Analysis, and the results demonstrated that the psychological meanings include both the presence of difficulties and suffering and the potentiality of the babies and the establishment of emotional mother-baby bonds. Relative to the relational meanings, the importance of support networks was identified, emphasizing the role of family members, health services, and religiosity as sources of support in facing difficulties. However, it was identified that the care is provided primordially to the babies, with the emotional assistance to mothers being insufficient. In conclusion, it stands out that each mother experienced toxoplasmosis from their possibilities and available support network, which affected the establishment of the mother-baby bond.