Genogram: a tool for characterizing the families of adolescents parents in Joao Pessoa, Paraiba State, Brazil/Genograma: ferramenta para caracterizar as familias de pais adolescentes em Joao Pessoa, Estado da Paraiba, Brasil

• Published in: Acta scientiarum. Health sciences 2012-01, Vol.34 (SI), p.287-293
• Main Authors: Leite, Alice Iana Tavares, Collet, Neusa, Meincke, Sonia Konzgen Maria, Carraro, Telma Elisa, Trigueiro, Debora Raquel Soares Guedes
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; spa
• Subjects: adolescence; adolescência; family relationships; parenthood; paternidade; relações familiares
• ISSN: 1679-9291; 1807-8648
• DOI: 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v34ispec.11263

The study aimed to characterize the family composition of adolescent fathers in the city of Joao Pessoa, Paraiba State. This is a part of a multicenter survey developed in the states of Paraiba, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. The population was composed of ten teenage fathers living in the urban area of Joao Pessoa. Data collection occurred from December 2008 to October 2010 through semistructured interview and construction of the genogram and eco-map. Participants' age ranged from 16 to 19 years. They all lived with his partner and most had low education. The unemployed and those with income below one minimum wage indicated the family as the keeper of the home. Most fathers also depended on other family housing, and the amount of people living in the same house ranged from three to seven. Despite the existence of conflicting and/or distant relationships, all respondents reported that seek emotional and financial support in their own family. Fatherhood and motherhood in adolescence had already been experienced by some families. Understanding adolescent parents requires a broader view about composition and family dynamics, a task to be faced by health professionals committed to the care, being the genogram a viable and important tool in this process. Keywords: parenthood, adolescence, family relationships. O estudo objetiva caracterizar a composicao familiar de pais adolescentes em Joao Pessoa-PB. Trata-se de um recorte de pesquisa multicentrica desenvolvida na PB, RS e SC. Os sujeitos foram dez pais adolescentes, residentes no perimetro urbano de Joao Pessoa. A coleta de dados ocorreu de dezembro de 2008 a outubro de 2010, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada e construcao do genograma e ecomapa. A idade dos participantes variou de 16 a 19 anos. Todos viviam com a companheira; a maioria apresentava baixa escolarizacao. Os desempregados e os de renda abaixo de um salario minimo indicaram a familia como mantenedora do lar. A maioria ainda dependia da moradia de outros familiares e a quantidade de pessoas que viviam na mesma casa variou de tres a sete. Apesar da existencia de relacionamentos conflituosos e/ou distantes, todos os entrevistados relataram buscar apoio emocional e financeiro na propria familia. A paternidade e a maternidade na adolescencia ja haviam sido experienciadas por algumas familias. Compreender pais adolescentes requer uma visao ampliada acerca da composicao e dinamica familiar, tarefa a ser enfrentada pelos profissionais de saude