Lived Experiences of Pregnant Women with Hypertension within the Health Care Network
1
Municipal Government, Public Health Nurse, Fortaleza/ Ceará, Brazil
2
Protgraduanten Program in Public Health, University of Fortaleza, FORTALEZA/CEARÁ, Brazil
3
Scholl of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo/ São Paulo, Brazil
4
Undergraduante Nursing Program, University of Fortaleza, Fortaleza/ Ceará, Brazil
5
Speech-Language Pathologist in the Postgraduate Program at UNIFOR, University of Fortaleza, Fortaleza/ Ceará, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Pregnancy is a period marked by intense physical, emotional, and social changes in a woman’s life, which may be aggravated by the presence of clinical conditions that characterize high-risk pregnancy, such as arterial hypertension. This condition is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, requiring qualified and continuous prenatal follow-up. The present study aimed to analyze the experiences lived by pregnant women with hypertension regarding prenatal care and childbirth within primary and secondary health care services. This is a qualitative study grounded in the phenomenology of Edmund Husserl, conducted at the Assis Chateaubriand Teaching Maternity Hospital, in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. The study included 20 hypertensive pregnant women aged 18 years or older, who were followed within the Brazilian Unified Health System. Data collection took place between August and October 2025 through semi-structured interviews, conducted individually in a private setting. The testimonies were audio-recorded, transcribed, and subjected to thematic analysis. The results revealed that pregnant women experienced feelings of fear, anxiety, insecurity, and sadness, often associated with previous traumatic experiences, such as pregnancy loss and obstetric complications. The diagnosis of high-risk pregnancy intensified emotional overload, directly impacting the experience of motherhood. Four central themes emerged: challenges and feelings attributed to the pregnant woman; family and professional support strategies; living with the unexpected; and institutions and the care provided. It was observed that family support and the sensitive performance of the health care team were fundamental in coping with adversities, promoting greater adherence to care, emotional strengthening, and increased security throughout pregnancy. It is concluded that fear was the predominant feeling among participants, highlighting the need to strengthen support networks and implement more humanized and comprehensive care practices in order to minimize the impacts of high-risk pregnancy and promote maternal and fetal well-being.
Pregnancy is a period marked by intense physical, emotional, and social changes in a woman’s life, which may be aggravated by the presence of clinical conditions that characterize high-risk pregnancy, such as arterial hypertension. This condition is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, requiring qualified and continuous prenatal follow-up. The present study aimed to analyze the experiences lived by pregnant women with hypertension regarding prenatal care and childbirth within primary and secondary health care services. This is a qualitative study grounded in the phenomenology of Edmund Husserl, conducted at the Assis Chateaubriand Teaching Maternity Hospital, in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. The study included 20 hypertensive pregnant women aged 18 years or older, who were followed within the Brazilian Unified Health System. Data collection took place between August and October 2025 through semi-structured interviews, conducted individually in a private setting. The testimonies were audio-recorded, transcribed, and subjected to thematic analysis. The results revealed that pregnant women experienced feelings of fear, anxiety, insecurity, and sadness, often associated with previous traumatic experiences, such as pregnancy loss and obstetric complications. The diagnosis of high-risk pregnancy intensified emotional overload, directly impacting the experience of motherhood. Four central themes emerged: challenges and feelings attributed to the pregnant woman; family and professional support strategies; living with the unexpected; and institutions and the care provided. It was observed that family support and the sensitive performance of the health care team were fundamental in coping with adversities, promoting greater adherence to care, emotional strengthening, and increased security throughout pregnancy. It is concluded that fear was the predominant feeling among participants, highlighting the need to strengthen support networks and implement more humanized and comprehensive care practices in order to minimize the impacts of high-risk pregnancy and promote maternal and fetal well-being.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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