This is a report on a professional experience in obstetrics and gynecological services at a public maternity in Rio de Janeiro. The purpose is to elucidate the meanings of prematurity from the point of view of mothers of babies prematurely born and interned on high and medium risk nurseries. Data here discussed have obtained through different procedures: participative observation in infirmary and nursery services; half-structured interviews with mothers; weekly discussion groups with users and health team, individual attendance on mothers and babies’ relatives. In general, we can say that, within this specific context, there are frequent hindrances in communication between health team, mothers and relatives, due to different speech styles as well as the different beliefs and values in relation to prematurity. That scene leads to low agreement and little mothers’ adhesion to treatment and medical prescriptions, which has serious implications on babies’ cares. The psychologist, as part of the health team, may play an important role as intercessor and stimulator of more humanized relations inside health services having, this way, an impact on quality of given attendance.
prematurity; health team; doctor-patient communication