Celmira Laza-Vásquez1, María Elena Rodríguez-Vélez2, Jasleidy Lasso-Conde2, Montserrat Gea-Sánchez3, Erica Briones-Vozmediano3. 1. Programa de Enfermería, Universidad Surcolombiana, Neiva-Departamento del Huila, Colombia; Grupo de investigación Salud y Grupos Vulnerables, Neiva, Colombia. Electronic address: celmira.laza@usco.edu.co. 2. Programa de Enfermería, Universidad Surcolombiana, Neiva-Departamento del Huila, Colombia; Grupo de investigación Salud y Grupos Vulnerables, Neiva, Colombia. 3. Facultad de Enfermería y Fisioterapia, Universidad de Lleida, Lleida, España; Grup de Recerca en Cures de la Salut (GRECS), Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Lleida, España; Grupo de Estudios Sociedad, Salud, Educación y Cultura (GESEC), Departamento de Enfermería y Fisioterapia, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, España.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To understand the decision-making process of a group of women to continue gestation following a prenatal Zika virus infection and the diagnosis of microcephaly of their fetuses. METHOD: Qualitative study. Two discussion groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 women residing in the Department of Huila (Colombia) who presented a prenatal Zika virus infection between 2015 and 2016, their children were born with congenital microcephaly. The data were analyzed following the Grounded Theory approach. RESULTS: Four categories emerged from the analysis of the data showing a temporal process, from before to taking the decision to continue gestation following prenatal Zika virus infection to its consequences. The process begins with the diagnosis virus infection during the first trimester of gestation, continuing with medical recommendations to interrupt gestation and women's refusal to interrupt gestation, and ending with the birth of children with congenital microcephaly. CONCLUSION: Women rejected abortion due to ethical conflicts based on religious beliefs and the value of motherhood. It is necessary to design social support policies for women and families affected by this problem in Colombia. Due to the international impact of the epidemic, governments should take appropriate measures to deal with future cases of Zika infections in other countries.
OBJECTIVE: To understand the decision-making process of a group of women to continue gestation following a prenatal Zika virus infection and the diagnosis of microcephaly of their fetuses. METHOD: Qualitative study. Two discussion groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 women residing in the Department of Huila (Colombia) who presented a prenatal Zika virus infection between 2015 and 2016, their children were born with congenital microcephaly. The data were analyzed following the Grounded Theory approach. RESULTS: Four categories emerged from the analysis of the data showing a temporal process, from before to taking the decision to continue gestation following prenatal Zika virus infection to its consequences. The process begins with the diagnosis virus infection during the first trimester of gestation, continuing with medical recommendations to interrupt gestation and women's refusal to interrupt gestation, and ending with the birth of children with congenital microcephaly. CONCLUSION: Women rejected abortion due to ethical conflicts based on religious beliefs and the value of motherhood. It is necessary to design social support policies for women and families affected by this problem in Colombia. Due to the international impact of the epidemic, governments should take appropriate measures to deal with future cases of Zika infections in other countries.
Authors: Elena Marbán-Castro; Cristina Enguita-Fernàndez; Kelly Carolina Romero-Acosta; Germán J Arrieta; Anna Marín-Cos; Salim Mattar; Clara Menéndez; Maria Maixenchs; Azucena Bardají Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2022-04-18