“Take care of yourself to take care of others” project

behind maternity responsibility

Abstract

Physical and/or intellectual disability is a complex condition that affects a large part of the Brazilian population, and, when it comes to children, the role of the family is crucial to ensure good quality of life. It is known that mothers are usually the ones who assume the largest responsibility in parenting, giving up their own self-care to provide the necessary care for their children. This article aims to report the experience of two health academics in carrying out an extension project that promotes self-care and health promotion for mothers of children with disabilities, in a philanthropic rehabilitation association in Belo Horizonte. The actions were carried out every two weeks, in five meetings, with the active participation of, on average, eight mothers per meeting. Topics related to self-care, mental health and breast cancer prevention were covered. During the meetings, there was a great interaction between mothers and students, promoted by human contact and empathy, important pillars of good professional training. A literature review was carried out to guide discussions and conclusions on the topic. The project showed the importance of educational and health promotional actions for mothers of children with disabilities, highlighting the ability to positively impact their lives.