Parenting of mothers of children in early childhood during the COVID-19 pandemic: qualitative research.

OBJECTIVES: to understand practices of mothers of children in early childhood who live in contexts of poverty in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: an exploratory, descriptive and qualitative study. Participants were selected in the community context, composing an intentional sample to be collected through semi-structured online interviews. Data were analyzed inductively and anchored in the Bioecological Model of Human Development. RESULTS: eight mothers participated in the research. Mothers highlighted pleasure in taking care of their children, although they were overloaded with activities and comprehensive care at the time of the pandemic. Children, in mothers' perception, showed a higher frequency of challenging behaviors, which may be related to negative parenting practices, such as punishment and physical violence. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: interventions to support parenting become urgent in the face of changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in families living in a context of poverty.

Parenting of mothers of children in early childhood during the COVID-19 pandemic: qualitative research / Crianza de madres de niños en la primera infancia durante la pandemia de COVID-19: investigación cualitativa / Parentalidade de mães de crianças na primeira infância durante a pandemia de COVID-19: pesquisa qualitativa

ABSTRACT Objectives: to understand practices of mothers of children in early childhood who live in contexts of poverty in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: an exploratory, descriptive and qualitative study. Participants were selected in the community context, composing an intentional sample to be collected through semi-structured online interviews. Data were analyzed inductively and anchored in the Bioecological Model of Human Development. Results: eight mothers participated in the research. Mothers highlighted pleasure in taking care of their children, although they were overloaded with activities and comprehensive care at the time of the pandemic. Children, in mothers' perception, showed a higher frequency of challenging behaviors, which may be related to negative parenting practices, such as punishment and physical violence. Final Considerations: interventions to support parenting become urgent in the face of changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in families living in a context of poverty.

RESUMEN Objetivos: comprender la crianza y las prácticas de crianza de las madres de niños en la primera infancia que viven en contextos de pobreza, frente a la pandemia de la COVID-19. Métodos: estudio exploratorio, descriptivo, enfoque cualitativo. Los participantes fueron seleccionados en el contexto comunitario, componiendo una muestra intencional para ser recolectada a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas en la modalidad online. Los datos fueron analizados inductivamente y anclados en la Teoría Bioecológica del Desarrollo Humano. Resultados: ocho madres participaron de la investigación. Las madres destacaron el gusto por cuidar a sus hijos, aunque estaban sobrecargadas de actividades y atención integral en el momento de la pandemia. Los niños, en la percepción de las madres, mostraron una mayor frecuencia de comportamientos desafiantes, lo que puede estar relacionado con prácticas de crianza negativas, como castigo y violencia física. Consideraciones Finales: las intervenciones de apoyo a la crianza se vuelven urgentes ante los cambios provocados por la pandemia de COVID-19 en las familias que viven en un contexto de pobreza.

RESUMO Objetivos: compreender a parentalidade e práticas parentais de mães de crianças na primeira infância que vivem em contextos de pobreza, diante da pandemia de COVID-19. Métodos: estudo exploratório, descritivo, abordagem qualitativa. As participantes foram selecionadas no contexto comunitário, compondo uma amostra intencional para a coleta por entrevistas semi-estruturadas na modalidade online. Os dados foram analisados de forma indutiva e ancorados na Teoria Bioecológica do Desenvolvimento Humano. Resultados: oito mães participaram da pesquisa. As mães destacaram prazer em cuidar dos filhos, embora estivessem sobrecarregadas com atividades e cuidado integral no momento da pandemia. As crianças, na percepção das mães, apresentaram maior frequência de comportamentos desafiadores, os quais podem ter relação com práticas parentais negativas, como punição e violência física. Considerações Finais: intervenções de apoio à parentalidade se tornam urgentes diante de mudanças suscitadas pela pandemia de COVID-19 em famílias que vivem em contexto de pobreza.