Representações sociais sobre a prática do cuidado para enfermeiros da saúde indígena: um estudo transcultural

The desire to research on this subject arisen from the experience as nursing in the indigenous health, where I observed that many professionals from all regions of Brazil chose to work within this zone. It was notorious the nurse s difficult to settle in only one place for a long length of time. Probably due to health care in indigenous zones happens from a cultural confront. This confront materialize because both sides are imbued with their own culture: in one hand the nurse professional with its scientific knownledgment on the other the indigenous with their rituals and peculiars habits. In this context nurses should delineate and negotiate the reality through symbolic representations of life, and then make questions on the new reality. In this way, this study set out with the aim of apprehends the nurse s social representations of transcultural care in indigenous health. This knownledgment is important to avoid possible conflicts, shocks, difficulties and health care incongruence within this context. The data collect was carried out on a range of non structured interview guided by a pre-elaborated questionnaire with four questions and a hand drawing related to nurse s health care in the indigenous health. This research had a sample of 17 nurses from the Indigenous Sanitary District of Manaus in the Amazon State. To interpret data we used the Discourse of the Collective Subject, which findings were presented in three chapters: characterization of participants, discussion on themes prevalent in discourse; social representation of nursing care through infographics. The analysis revealed that the care in the indigenous health is challenging because the native people imbued in its world are perceived and processed according to the nurse s cultural lens, leading to materialize of some strangeness and adaptation difficulties, especially in the first contacts. The Social Representation on nursing practice, in many cases, is projected and contrived on the basis of scattered believes and on perception derived from common sense. The findings shows that representions are essential to mitigating the initial strangeness and help nurses to better situate themselves in the new universe. The nurse s practice in the indigenous health care should merge into each other. From the Social Representations is possible to perceive that assimilation, also comprehension on indigenous health system and its traditional knowledge are important to developing strategies to improve access and quality of care for indigenous peoples. After analysis the nurse s discourses and drawings, it is possible to represent the nurse s practice in the indigenous health as anthropophagism, since nurses should literally consuming its patients culture, digesting it and seize it as means to provide culturally congruent care. We highlight the urgent need for preparation and training of professionals to work more effectively with indigenous peoples

Registro de enfermagem no prontuário em um hospital universitário: uma busca pela humanização do cuidado

T he aim of this study is to analyze the view of nurses about nursing records in the patient chart, in perspective of the record of humanized care. This is a case study, with qualitative approach. For its achievement, was sought and granted authorization from the direction of the Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes (HUOL) and the Ethics Committee in Research of HUOL as Statement No. 422/10. During data collection, interviews were conducted with 20 nurses of the institution. The data analysis was based on the theoretical framework of Minayo to thematic content analysis, grounded in authors who work with themes, nursing records and quality care. With the empirical material, we constructed a framework of analysis, which was identified four categories thus nominated, "Reading and learning from those who register," "nursing records and quality of care," "the essence of nursing records" and "intention and action on the record of the subjective aspects of the patient." The results show that the records are insufficient, even in the case of the procedures performed with the patients often do not inform about the aspects that deal with the subjectivity that surround it, and admit that the records do not represent a parameter for evaluating the quality of care at least at that institution. In summary, the respondents recognize the importance of valuing subjectivity of the patient in their treatment, yet admit to neglect this aspect as significant for comprehensive health care, humane and quality

Atuação do enfermeiro na rede básica de saúde frente a gestante com infecção do trato urinário

The Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in pregnancy is important as a consequence of the high incidence during the gestation. It is the third most common clinical complication in pregnancy affecting 10-12% of women whether prevalence is increasing in the first trimester of pregnancy, it may also contribute to maternal and infant mortality. Due the relevance for the results of obstetric and neonatal complications from UTI, these complications must be prevented, because it can lead to health hazards to pregnant women and newborns, producing a direct effect on morbidity and perinatal mortality. On this basis, it was defined as objectives of this research the identification of the profile of nurses from the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in the East and West Health Districts from the city of Natal / RN before the women with UTI and to verify the nurse performance during prenatal consultations. This is an exploratory study with a quantitative approach using a sample of 40 nurses active workers during this survey, it was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte Protocol n0 232/10 P-CEP/UFRN and opinion n0 080/2011. The tool for data collection was a structured interview. The data collected were organized into an electronic database application Microsoft ® Excel 2007, exported and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0, and coded, tabulated and presented through tables and charts into their respective percentage distributions, using the descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, chi-square test and significance level of 5% (distribution in relative and absolute frequencies) in the independent variables. Therefore, it was observed from these results that the longer action of nurses in the FHS from the East and Weast health districts of the city of Natal/RN contributed to the development of a greater number of activities to control the incidence of UTI in women who are attended in the prenatal care service, proven by significance in statistics

A pessoa com tuberculose e o cuidado de si

Tuberculosis is a serious disease with high incidence and prevalence, and in many countries a priority public health problem, with persisting high epidemiological significance. Seeing the person with tuberculosis it is important to observe his/her self care, as well as the difficulties intertwined in this process, since it can be directly impacting the health/disease process. The aim of this study was to analyze the self care of people with tuberculosis. Descriptive study with qualitative approach, conducted in West Sanitary District of the city of Natal, RN. Data collection occurred through a semi-structured interview guided by questions concerning sociodemographic and about the disease, treatment, and self care, between the months of July to September 2012 and met the ethical precepts of research with human beings. To analyze the results we used the technique of thematic content analysis of Laurence Bardin, through the prism of the theoretical-philosophical self care discussed by Michel Foucault. From the analysis emerged two categories, the first being, Meaning of tuberculosis, with subcategories: tuberculosis as sadness and unhappiness and tuberculosis as a normal issue, and the second, Beware yourself to tuberculosis, which had subcategories: self care as attention to the health care of oneself as satisfaction of basic needs and difficulties to self care. Tuberculosis represents for some people, something really sad, causing psychological suffering, however the other presents as normal. Self care of persons with tuberculosis in this study are related in great part to seek health care and the satisfaction of basic needs. About the difficulties related to the practice of self-care, it is observed that these are tied to food, time for rest, slowness of health services for scheduling appointments and tests, as well as related habits and dependencies in the lives of these people. This study contributed to a reflection of the users with tuberculosis and self care, revealing aspects that healthcare professionals should pay attention to watch these people, being able to see everyday on the run, the need for a space and time for oneself

Cuidado de enfermagem ao potencial doador de órgãos em morte encefálica: uma reflexão sobre a prática

Despite of the technological advances that favor the transplant process, there are issues of effectiveness of care necessary for the maintenance of potential organ donors with brain death, which contribute to the no realization of transplants of organs and tissues of these patients. It is presupposed that the problems could be related to perceptions and understandings that the professionals of the units of internment have about the care required by the diagnosis of brain death. The aim of this study was to understand the meaning of the nursing care of the potential organ donor with brain death to the nursing staff. Descriptive study with qualitative approach guided by Action Science Theory and the critic-reflexive research methodology accomplished with five nurses and 19 nursing technicians from Operative Rehabilitation Center in a public hospital at Natal / RN, Brazil, between March and May 2013. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with individual reflection about the care and through group interview, after approval by the Ethics and Research Committee, CAAE No.: 04255612.7.0000.5537. The analysis was performed in a thematic way according to Bardin. During the group meeting the participants were driven in a discussion about the need for change and how to perform them. The results indicate that the professionals actions are consistent with those required for maintenance of potential organ donors, although the material and human resources are not adequate. That situation leads the professionals to develop a meaning of care as one labor more, demanding more than they can give. They express beliefs and feelings concerning the hope that their care brings a greater good that is to save lives. The reflection for a possible change of action was difficult to accomplish due to professionals not to be able to self evaluate, what lead to direct your changes suggestions for other team members. It is concluded that the care provided to these patients is a difficult care, evidenced by suffering both death situation of the person cared and pain of their families, as the dehumanizing conditions of work, helping themselves to keep distance from patients to not suffer so much. The knowledge impregnated in their act, are scientific, ethical, aesthetic and personal kind with a predominance of the scientific followed by the personal. The study was also relevant to the practice of nursing in maintaining the potential donor, in that it allowed the identification of the knowledge used by nurses in their care practice and the meaning understanding of the professionals on the care provided, as a good action that brings satisfaction when the transplanting is executed. Other experiences are suggested with the critic-reflexive research methodology, both in research as in teaching nursing

Protocolo de avaliação do cuidado de enfermagem e da segurança do paciente em unidades de terapia intensiva

The reports of adverse events date from 1990 up to the present day. Conceptually, these adverse events are unintentional injuries unrelated to the underlying disease, causing measurable lesions in patients, extending the period of hospitalization, or leading to death. These issues require discussions with regard to patient safety, improved quality of service, and preventing medical errors. In the Intensive Care Units, this concern is greater because these are sectors of intensive care to individuals with hemodynamic changes and imminent risk of death. Therefore, it is essential to conduct evaluation processes to investigate aspects of quality of nursing care and patient safety in these spaces. For that reason, we aimed to propose the Evaluation protocol of nursing care and patient safety in Intensive Care Units. For its achievement, we needed to: 1) analyze the evolution of the patient safety concept used in scientific productions, under Rodgers evolutionary concept; 2) identify the necessary items to build the evaluation protocol of nursing care and patient safety in the Intensive Care Unit, from the available evidence in literature; 3) construct an instrument for content validation of the evaluation protocol of nursing care and patient safety in the Intensive Care Unit; and 4) describe and evaluate the appropriateness of the content for an evaluation protocol of nursing care and patient safety in the Intensive Care Unit. This is a methodological study for the content validation of the abovementioned protocol. To meet the first three specific objectives, we used the integrative literature review in Theses Database of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel and the portal of the Collaborating Centre for Quality of Care and Patient Safety. The fourth specific objective happened through the participation of judges, located from the Lattes curricula, in the content validation process developed in two stages: Delphi 1 and Delphi 2. As instrument, we used the electronic form of Google docs. We present in tables the answers from the evaluation instruments by Delphi consensus and Content Validity Index (CVI) of the entire protocol. We summarized the results in articles entitled Analysis of the patient safety concept: Rodgers evolutionary concept ; Scientific evidence regarding patient safety in the Intensive Care Unit ; Technological device for the content validation process: experience report ; and Evaluation protocol of nursing care and patient safety in Intensive Care Units. The Embodied Opinion of the Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, No. 461,246, under CAAE 19586813.2.0000.5537, approved the study. Thus, we conclude the protocol valid in its content, constituting an important tool for evaluating the quality of nursing care and patient safety in Intensive Care Units

O cuidado compartilhado entre mães e educadoras de um centro municipal de educação infantil: uma pesquisa-ação

O cuidado à criança envolve a identificação e o atendimento às necessidades de modo a oferecer-lhe atenção como pessoa em contínuo processo de crescimento e desenvolvimento. Contudo, o cuidado oferecido à criança que convive em instituição escolar está permeado por conflitos que fragilizam a relação família-escola, não sendo estimulada a articulação desses atores no que refere ao cuidar da criança. Diante dessa problemática, objetivou-se analisar a construção de um pacto do cuidar entre mães e educadoras de crianças que frequentam um Centro Municipal de Educação Infantil. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, tendo como método a pesquisa-ação. Envolveu doze mães e oito educadoras de uma instituição de educação infantil de Cidade Nova, no município de Natal, no período de abril a novembro de 2013. Os dados foram coletados através de entrevista grupo focal, observação participante, seminários e diário de campo. Os resultados foram analisados seguindo o direcionamento da análise temática freireana. Na etapa do diagnóstico situacional, que investigou a realidade vivenciada pelas participantes do estudo, percebeu-se que as educadoras não se sentem preparadas para lidar com aspectos de saúde-doença da criança e recusam as ações de cuidado como desempenho de suas funções, interpretada como uma atitude que ultrapassa sua competência profissional. Os pais, por sua vez, apresentaram dificuldade de entendimento e clareza da sua função e relação com a instituição e executam as ações de saúde sem associá-lo à promoção e prevenção, além de realizarem com conhecimento empírico. Vista a necessidade de mudança das ações de saúde prestadas à criança, decidiu-se conjuntamente, através de uma roda de conversa, realizar capacitações sobre higiene e limpeza, medidas caseiras no cuidado à criança e primeiros socorros. Na etapa de implementação da ação coletiva as participantes consideraram as atividades úteis no cuidado prestado à criança e perceberam a importância do cuidado compartilhado para o desenvolvimento infantil. Com o desenvolvimento das capacitações, as participantes sentiram a necessidade de sistematizar as atividades prestadas à criança nos problemas de saúde e, para tanto, foram construídos, conjuntamente, protocolos e procedimentos operacionais padrão para a formalizar as ações. Na etapa de avaliação dos encontros, constatou-se que há expectativas positivas para a continuidade do cuidado em comunhão entre pais e educadores, pois foram construídas novas percepções em relação ao cuidado da criança. Percebeu-se mudança considerável nas mães assíduas ao estudo quanto ao cuidado e interesse, no entanto tornaram-se evidentes as fragilidades no processo de trabalho do CMEI, pois emergiram a dificuldade existente nos membros que compõe a instituição de educação infantil de articular o cuidado à educação. Como principal dificuldade, elenca-se o alto índice de mães faltosas e a dificuldade de articular com outros profissionais de saúde para as atividades. Considera-se que o pacto de cuidar não foi implantado integralmente, pois partilhar cuidados sugere o encontro de pais e educadores que podem ter aspectos divergentes sobre necessidades infantis e desenvolvimento, o que requer constante negociação entre as partes. Nesse sentido, constitui-se em um processo contínuo de aperfeiçoamento entre família e instituição de educação infantil

Práticas populares de cuidado à criança: o saber/fazer de cuidadoras

Popular practices correspond to the resources used by households, lay people and popular therapists, whose perception of knowledge is constructed in the everyday. In this context, the sick child can become vulnerable to be dependent on a family caregiver, who often decide to employ popular practices. Thus, the child care should be shared between carer and health professional. However, they know little about the resources that the family uses to detect a grievance in infant. Therefore, the present research aimed to analyse the use of popular practices by caregivers of children with zero to five years old. We conducted an exploratory and descriptive study with a qualitative approach, together with 15 caregivers of children who were treated at the Joint Unit Felipe Shrimp, located in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. To select the participants, they should be age and above 18 years; be caregivers of children up to five years of age; and reside in the area ascribed the Joint Unit Felipe Shrimp. The data collection took place between September and October 2013, through in depth interview. This step was preceded by the approval of the Health Department of the city of Natal; the direction of the Joint Unit Felipe Shrimp; as well as, the Committee on Ethics in Research from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte with Certificate of Presentation and Consideration Ethics, No 15467013.8.0000.5537. Furthermore, the interviewees formally authorized their participation in the research by signing the consent form. The data were treated according to the technique of content analysis in the form of thematic analysis according to Bardin. This process, four categories emerged: "Types of popular practices used in the care of the child"; "Source of information of popular practices"; "Results obtained with popular practices"; "Factors that hinder the adoption of common practices." The results showed the use of popular practices by caregivers in the case of illness to children such as the homemade preparations with medicinal plants and folk healers. The family environment was referenced as the main learning space and spread of popular practices, which are influenced by cultural relations present in this context. As to the results obtained with popular features, the caregivers said to be satisfactory, and this triggers a feeling of confidence and acceptability of such measures. It is concluded that the use of popular practices in child care persists in everyday most of the participants, despite the hegemony of allopathic therapy. The caregivers stated that such practices are effective and easy to obtain, being secured in context by popular culture. In addition, health professionals, especially nurses, were seldom mentioned by the caregivers as to the information concerning popular resources used by them, which suggests the weakness in dialogic process of negotiating practices between both of them

O cuidado humanístico como foco institucional: um estudo sobre empatia dos profissionais de saúde na área obstétrica

Empathy is a basic facilitating element of the therapeutic helping relationship and the humanization process in health care. The objectives of this study were to identify the empathy level of health professionals working in the obstetrical sector of a university hospital recognized for its humanistic care and the perceptions of the women under their care regarding the empathic behavior shown by these professionals during hospitalization. We conducted a quanti/qualitative study with 47 health professionals that worked in the obstetrical sector (13 obstetricians, 12 nurses, 22 nurse technicians) and an intentional sample of 101 women that received cared from these professionals during the study period. We collected data by means of the Jefferson Empathy Scale for Health Professioals (JEPS-HR) and the Patient´s Perception of Health Professional Empathy (PPHPE), and two additional open questions designed to obtain the subjective opinion about the empathic behavior during the care. We utilized thematic analysis for the data obtained through the open questions and descriptive and inferential statistics for the quantitative data. We identified five thematic categories that represent the aspects valued by the professionals in their relationship with the women under their care: emotional involvement, communication, warm environment, integral vision and technical/scientific knowledge. The mean score on the JEPS-HR reported for the health professionals was 120,40, being that the maximum possible was 140.The Cronbach Alpha for the JEPS-HR was 0,83, indicating an acceptable level of reliability for this population. We consider therefore, that these professionals presented an acceptable empathy level when compared to other populations observed with the JEPS-HR. The results also indicated that women had statistically significant (p ≤ 0,05) higher scores than men and that professionals with higher working hours tended to have lower scores in the empathy scale (r = -0,288; p ≤ 0,05). The analysis of the subjective responses of the women indicated that they were satisfied with the humanistic care provided by the professionals but they also point out the existence of some power relationships. There were no significant differences in the empathy level of the medical or nursing team perceived by the women who registered means of 41,90 and 41,20 respectively on the PPHPE. In view of these results and considering the relevance of the element of empathy for care based on humanistic values, we reiterate the importance of further in-service training for the health team of the hospital in focus, on the topics of empathy and global aspects of humanized care for the implementation of its mission

Vivência do enfermeiro no cuidado humano na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva adulto

The purpose of the study was to understand the nurse s experience with human care in the Adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The objective was to describe the nurse s experience in caring for patients in the ICU and to analyze the nurse s perception of the care provided. The study is a descriptive inquiry of qualitative nature with a phenomenological approach. We interviewed eight nurses, 26 and 43 years of age, that provide care in the ICU of a private hospital in Natal/RN, during the manths of July and August of 2006. We analyzed the data acording to the method of Colaizzi. Four categories emerged from the data: The search for the maintenance of life, The technicalbureaucratic activities, The recognition of the patient s individuality, and the expression of the nurse s feelings.The analysis allowed us to describe the lived experience of the nurse s care the ICU and to comprehend the structural elements of this experience. The results showed that the nurse s experience presents itself as a process of the several actions and feelings that occur while the social relations between the patient and the nurse develop. Finally, we understand that although the study shows an experience based on a biological model of health, these nurses possess an initial idea on how to reach humanized care in its essence, needing, however, of an institutional policy that favors this practice, an educational formation that prepares her to recognize her field of work as a place of continuous learning and an understanding of the health model as an ally in the search of humanized care

Foucault e a arte do cuidado de si: uma nova possibilidade de Discussão para a formação continuada de professores de língua inglesa

This thesis proposes a new thinking on the English teacher and their continuing education, leaving the picture emerging of a new professional, who is producing and being produced. From this perspective, I present an analysis of self writing of thirteen student-teachers, teachers on how they position themselves to be discursively constituted as subjects in the context of continuing education. As part of Applied Linguistics, the theory and method that supports the analysis of data are articulate key elements of Foucault notions, namely:The care of the self, seeking their connection with one another and care of and the self writing. In the theoretical notions of these elements are implied notions of others, such as speech, ethics, technology of the self, subject and truth. (Foucault, 1984, 1995, 2004c, 2006), and questioning the ethics of the subject. I propose to examine selected excerpts from the self writings of student teachers with a specialization in Teaching and Learning the English Language, seeking linguistic processes in the material production of subjectivities.In order to analyze the process of subjectivation, I examine the discursive statements of selected cuts, aiming to learn more specifically, the points of identification and fragments of the uniqueness of the teachers, showing how they care for themselves and reflect upon them in building their subjectivity from the technologies of the self, to occupy the position of English Language teachers. The results show that, in the exercise of self writing, the subject falls, and a practice of asceticism, discursively construct her/his subjectivity

O cuidado e a ética do cuidado: um diálogo entre Leonardo Boff, Carol Gilligam e Nel Noddings

To elucidate the important contribution of care ethics in improving human relations and social intimates, this work reveals the fragility and lack of ethics on the formation of a just society, equal, peaceful and caring. To this end, we study on the moral development of men and women, warning of the natural differences between the sexes, which change for both the way of seeing life and live it - which does not imply inferiority to some genres. From this study it is clear that the natural care is innate to humans, it provides a tendency to act for the good of all life forms and nature as a whole. But it is evident here a greater sensitivity of women to such care because they possess perception and more emotion than men, which make them more participatory and involved in relationships. This greater openness to care found in women, due in part to the strong and lasting relationship with their mothers. Thus is revealed the power that women have to positively change the direction of human relationships, providing careful with your example, protective and caring, the awakening of a new and comprehensive ethics - opens to the truth, and features especially for affections. Therefore, the care ethics arises from the life experiences of women and aims, through them, to join the men's morality in order to bring out the relevant fact of interdependence between human beings, of human fragility and the need for relationships to the fullness of life

Cuidado de si e hermenêutica do sujeito em Michael Foucault

The work, here present, has as its objective to present in a clear and distinct manner the object of study of Michel Foucault in his last years of teaching at the College de France, namely, the care of the self. We present the care of the self in its birth, in its origin, from the character Socrates and its development until the beginning of the Christian age. With a keen eye, we present Foucault with a work of return and rescue of the care of the self to the personal and academic discussions; we propose, from the self care, to the contemporary subject a problematization of their life so that from this questioning he creates for herself ways of life that are coherence, knowledge and care with which he has of must particular, his himself. Passing by the sources that served as the source of study for Foucault to sketch the birth of care of the self, we design the form with which Foucault has dealt with the documents that speak of the care of self. We present Socrates as one who by excellence ensures that the other will give birth to the forms of knowledge and care of the self or, in other words, we present the care of the self socratic-foucauldian as a constant worry of the other to pay attention to ways in which he conducts her life, it creates for themselves ways of being and, therefore, creates ethics of existence. We present, finally, the care of the self as the cause of continuous immanence of modes of subjectivation of the subject that configure themselves in a non-accepting a determined essence, but a continually updated form . The care of the self leads to a single relationship and educator of modes of subjectivation of the subject; he creates, on the dynamics of temporality, ethical ways of living, which are sustained by an internal coherence of the subject with herself; he admits no stationary nature in the training of the subject, always wants a more beautiful work of himself; he is not isolation, he needs and is made with the other. The care of the self is the principle and the telos of battles and conquests of the subject within his temporality and existence

Tradução e adaptação transcultural do instrumento de avaliação prenatal selfevaluation questionnaire

Introduction: The human gestation period is 40 weeks. This is the essential time for maternal psychosocial adaptation, in which there is the intense transformation of a life without offspring into a life with one or more children. The Pregnancy Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (PSEQ) has 79 items, subdivided into seven subcategories: acceptance of pregnancy, identification with the maternal role, well-being of mother and baby, preparing for labor, control in labor, relationship with the mother and the relationship with the partner. Objective: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the instrument PSEQ to be used with Brazilian women. Methods: It is a cross-sectional observational study. We followed some methodological steps to achieve the cross-cultural adaptation of this measuring instrument. They are: translation, synthesis, back translation, analysis of the committee of specialists and pre-test. Another questionnaire was applied to characterize the socio-demographic and clinical status of the pregnant women (n = 36). The descriptive statistics was gotten through the average, standard deviation (SD), absolute and relative frequency. The statistical test used for the analysis of the internal consistency was Cronbach's alpha coefficient, using SPSS version 17.0. Results: The volunteers had low socioeconomic status, average age of 25.1 years (± 5.52), and average gestational age of 25.9 weeks (± 8.11). 58.3% of these volunteers had not planned their current pregnancy. The pretest showed that 75% of pregnant women found the questionnaire easy to understand. There was an average of 76.9 (± 3.23) answered items among the participants. Regarding the instrument PSEQ, the identification with the maternal role was the subcategory which showed the highest average 24.8 (± 5.6), while the relationship with the mother had the lowest average 15.4 (± 7.7). The internal consistency ranged from 0.52-0.89. Conclusion: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the PSEQ to Portuguese language were carried out with methodological rigor and can be considered an instrument with good internal consistency

Cuidado ao filhote de boto cinza, Sotalia guianensis (van Benédén, 1864)

In some species parental care is vital to survival. Many studies have reported various parental care behaviours in cetaceans. In Sotalia guianensis, some behaviours have been already described and linked to parental care. However, many aspects are still unknown and all these information might be important for the species conservation. The aim of the present study was minimize these gaps, showing the options involved in the marine tucuxi parental care. The observations took place in Enseada do Curral, located in Pipa, Tibal do Sul, Rio Grande do Norte Coast. Between January and December of 2005 the local population of tucuxi was observed during 42 days. The methods used were Focal Animal and Ad Libitum. The results suggest that calves are present in the bay all year long. Groups with calves had a mean of 6,9 animals, allowing the animals to participate in different activities in the group besides caring. The calves created different associations, being usually followed by an adult. In groups, the calves stay mainly in the centre, which offers them protection. Calves remained next to the adults tail, facilitating breastfeeding. The calves most noticeable activities were those in the surface and the behaviour frequencies decreased, in general, in the presence of human swimmers and boats, what could be considered a threat to the animals. Adults shared positions when caring for calves, suggesting allomaternal care; food transfer from adults to calves was observed, which might be related to diet acquisition; three non-described behaviours were seen, indicating a diversified behavioural repertoire for this species