The routine of families with nursing infants

Abstract

This descriptive study investigates the routine of families with nursing infants ages between six months and two years old, involving working mothers users of a Basic Health Unit in a city in the South of Brazil. The theoretical discussion is based on the families' routine approach. A total of 25 mothers were interviewed through a semi-structured questionnaire. The qualitative data analysis followed the phases of organization, codification, categorization and interpretation. The findings suggest that childcare routines vary according to the periodicity, schedule and occupation of the mother. Different alternatives to childcare were identified, and although most of the women interviewed reported to be married, they almost did not mention the husband's participation in the routine. The investigation based on family routines allows the identification of family roles, the social relations and the health care organization.