Ser pai de recém-nascido prematuro na unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal: da parentalidade a paternidade Being a father of a premature newborn at neonatal intensive care unit: from parenthood to fatherhood Cómo ser padre de un recién-nascido prematuro en una unidad neonatal de cuidados intensivos: de la distancia del parentesco a la paternidad

Objective: To understand the meanings given by the father to having a premature in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Methods: Qualitative study with an ethnographic approach, carried out in a Neonatal Unit in Rio de Janeiro. Twenty two fathers whose premature children were in the intensive care unit have been interviewed. Data were collected with field logbook, participative observation and unstructured interviews. Results: The father has a fundamental role in the reproductive process, and protects women during pregnancy and postpartum. He also experiences high satisfaction with the childbirth, however, having a newborn hospitalized is an unexpected and difficult experience. Conclusion: Fathers evidently go through a social and cultural transition as to paternity, having timidly overcome the hegemonic model. At the same time, they understand their fundamental role as providers and showed a wish to be looking after their child. Health care professionals must facilitate this proximity to value paternity.