Representações sociais de mulheres sobre o uso de substâncias psicoativas lícitas na gestação

Abstract

The object of this study is the social representations of women about the use of legal psychoactive substances (SPA) during pregnancy. With regard to the phenomenon of PAS consumption, it is important to note that these substances have accompanied humanity since the most ancient civilizations, their use was associated with cultural, religious and medical diversity. Over time, they underwent changes in the pattern of consumption; as a result, harm to public health emerged, bringing repercussions for society in general, such as violence and drug addiction. The relevance of this theme was to bring, through social representations, a broader view to better assist this woman who uses legal SPA during pregnancy. Thus, the general objective: to understand the social representations of women about the use of legal PAS during pregnancy and the specific objectives: to describe the social representations of women who use legal PAS in relation to pregnancy and to discuss the use of legal PAS during pregnancy. This is a descriptive, exploratory study with a qualitative approach. The study took place at the 3rd Health Center, a Basic Health Unit located in the city of Arapiraca – AL. The research participants were 25 women who used SPA during pregnancy. The sample was defined by broad homogeneity. Data were collected from December to March 2021, through semistructured audio-recorded interviews. The collected data were transcribed in full and analyzed according to the content analysis technique from Bardin's perspective. The Theory of Social Representations was used as a theoretical framework. Thus, it became possible to identify three thematic categories: The knowledge of women who use legal PAS during pregnancy; social representation of women regarding the use of legal PAS during pregnancy; and social representation of women in the social context in the use of legal PAS during pregnancy. The results showed that the SR of women who use legal PAS during pregnancy in their social context in view of their individual feelings, their knowledge about legal PAS and in society, emerged from various feelings that cause conflict in the individual and social sphere. The feelings arising from the SR evidenced in the study were: distorted or deficient knowledge and lack of understanding about legal PAS during pregnancy, denial, incapacity, guilt, prejudice, contempt, isolation and social withdrawal, and family influence and conflicts. Thus, this study made it possible to understand the SR of women on the use of legal PAS during pregnancy, from a consensual universe, formed from social support and shared by women and their social relationships.