First aid intervention with mothers/caregivers of children affected by the Zika virus in Brazil

Background: Children with microcephaly associated with the Zika virus are more likely to develop choking and apnea, so it is necessary that mothers of this population receive first aid training to cope with emergency situations that their children may experience.

Objective: To understand how an educational first aid intervention with mothers/caregivers of Brazilian children with congenital Zika virus syndrome impacts their management of seizures and choking.

Method: A qualitative study conducted in a philanthropic institution with ten mothers/caregivers of children with congenital Zika virus syndrome. Data were collected between August and November 2018 through four focus groups with two meetings for intervention/educational workshops in first aid on situations of choking and seizure. After one month, two more meetings were held to evaluate the effectiveness of this action performed at home. The empirical material was submitted to Content Analysis, and discussed in the light of Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of Autonomy.

Results: The mothers/caregivers performed ineffective and harmful behaviors to the children in situations of choking and seizure before the intervention. Thus, the intervention empowered these caregivers through an exchange of experiences which began to present discernment, autonomy, resolving capacity and confidence to act in these experienced situations. They also became knowledge disseminators for family members and neighbors.

Conclusion: The educational intervention can have satisfactory results in training mothers/caregivers in first aid, highlighting the importance of this initiative to reduce the morbidity and mortality of children who experience choking and seizures.

Keywords: Children; First aid; Health education; Mothers; Zika virus infection.