Programa de educación prenatal, para el parto y posnatal, en la Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi, Ecuador

Abstract

In the past academic years, a considerable percentage of students became mothers while they were studying at Technical University of Cotopaxi. The main aim of this doctoral thesis was the development of a prenatal, childbirth and postnatal educational program for the Technical University of Cotopaxi, Ecuador. At the beginning, a bibliographical review of the historical background of prenatal education was carried out; at the same time, the epistemological basis of the educational program was settled. After that, a diagnostic research was fulfilled with the aim of rating the prenatal education which UTC students had previously received and its incidence in their motherhood experience. A qualitative research methodology was designed for the diagnosis and a triangulation of focus group, life history and interview techniques was implemented. Among the main results one has to consider that the students of the Technical University of Cotopaxi who became mothers while studying received neither prenatal education, nor permanent pedagogical accompaniment, and this lack of knowledge prevented them from engaging their motherhood experience. It was observed that experiencing motherhood and University training at the same time, negatively influence both of them and generates difficulties in the students in establishing a balance between their academic and family responsibilities.Considering these outcomes, a prenatal, childbirth and postnatal educational program consisting of 6 conferences and 12 workshops has been developed; permanent pedagogical accompaniment is also provided by means of prenatal educators. The developed program has been validated by 8 experts using Delphi Method and received positive ratings.