I. Mendes

P-994 - Determinants of functional status of first-time fathers in postpartum

Background The birth of a child, specially the first born, is a stage in the family life that brings with it changes both socially and professionally, changing previous balance. The transition to parenthood by the father implies skills to balance stress and difficulties. Aim To analyse the association of some socio-demographic and obstetrical factors and the functional status of first-time fathers in the six weeks after childbirth. Methods Cross-sectional study, with a consecutive non probabilistic sample of 204 first-time fathers from a health centre whose partner pregnancies, delivery and postpartum period without complications, and had a childbirth of a term newborn. The data were gathered in the six weeks postpartum from a self-administered questionnaire with socio-demographic and obstetrics questions and the Portuguese version of the Inventory of functional Status - fathers (IFS-F) after the approval of the ethic committee. Results The first-time fathers showed better functional status in terms of professional activities, community, social activities and housekeeping. It appears that the first-time fathers showed poorer functional status at the level of educational training, care of newborn and personal care activities. The older first-time fathers tend to show better functional status at the level of household activities. Conclusion This study concludes that functional status of first-time fathers isn’t affected by educational level, residence, marital status or by the pregnancy vigilance place but partially influenced by the fathers age and employment situation. This study provides informations to adequate care strategy to promote better functional status of first-time fathers in the postpartum period.

Assessment of functional status in oldest old: The OARS/QAFMI model for care planning

Introduction The geriatric assessment should include the physical, cognitive, emotional and social functional status, allowing a concrete understanding of the oldest old realities for a better health planning. Objectives To assess the functional status in main areas of the elderlys life: social resources, economic resources, mental health, physical health and activities of daily living (ADL). Aims Provide information to health and social policy makers and improve the quality of care, adapting the training of nurses to this new social and health reality. Methods The randomized, stratified (age and gender) sample consisted of individuals aged ≥75, randomly selected and representative of Coimbras (Portugal) elder residents ( n =11,279; n =1128). The instrument for data collection was the Questionario de Avaliacao Funcional Multidimensional para Idosos/Older Americans Resources and Services (QAFMI/OARS). Results In the social resources, there are significant differences between gender ( P P P Conclusions The results will play an important role in the decisions of the technicians at Health Centres to the planning of older care services and will be disseminate among the responsible entities aiming the improvement of the current policies.

The Oldest Old: Gender Differences in Mental and Physical Functional Status

Introduction The World Health Organization recognizes the gender as an ageing determinant. Thus, apart from biological differences, there is a need of a gender approach in health that includes an analysis of how differences in gender roles affect the health status. Objective To assess the functional status in two areas of the elderlys life (mental and physical health), analyzing the impact of gender as a determinant of health in aging. Methods Quantitative and descriptive study. Probabilistic sample stratified by age, gender and area of residence, constituted by 1153 older persons aged ≥75 years (N=16474), consisting of 422 men (36.6%) and 731 women (63.4%). The instrument for data collection was the Questionario de Avaliacao Funcional Multidimensional para Idosos/Older Americans Resources and Services (QAFMI/OARS). Results With regard to gender differences in the areas of physical and mental health the results evaluated with the QAFMI/OARS model stand women with worse scores in this two functional areas. Although men, and especially the older age group, mentioned that have had more need for a physician visit. Related to mental health the self-evaluation is worse in women, and also in the assessment of the QAFMI/OARS model, were it was a notorious difference between genders, observing a decline in mental health among women. Conclusions The feminization of aging implies an adequate public policies and the organization of health services, and social support, based on the understanding of the differences between aging as a man and as woman.

EPA-0826 - Functional status of primiparous and multiparous fathers in the 6-8 weeks postpartum

Introduction Nowadays father’s role has been changing as a result of the evolution suffered by society. Parenthood sets a moment of crisis, which requires an adaptation and accountability of the father regarding the new roles he now has to assume. In this process we consider the functional status to be an adequate reference to the performance of these roles. Objectives Evaluate the functional Status of primiparous and multiparous fathers in the 6-8 weeks postpartum; analyze the association between sociodemographic and some obstetrics factors in fathers’ functional status and compare the functional status of primiparous and multiparous fathers. Method Descriptive-correlational study with a non-probabilistic, accidental sample constituted by 67 fathers, after the necessary ethics committee and CNPD approval. Data collection consisted of a questionnaire with sociodemographic and obstetric characterization and the inventory of functional status - fathers, Portuguese version. Results The study revealed evidence that fathers’ functional status is not influenced by age, academic qualification, marital status and parity. However is partly influenced by professional situation and pre-natal surveillance site. Profession stability seems to transfer emotional stability, as we believe that the man, in his parental role, feels more available to participate in new tasks and responsibilities if he feels that he assures his family livelihood. Conclusions Nowadays, parents seek to know everything about their children, choosing specialized services and health professionals for skills development and demonstration of care, allowing and contributing to a more favorable transition and adaptation to the parental role and consequently less emotional vulnerability in postpartum.

P-995 - First-time parents: difficulties/needs in caring of the newborn and the adjustment to the parental role in postpartum period

Introduction Postpartum period is a time of transition, of adjustments to the parental role. This transition calls for changes in role relationships, especially in the first- time parents. Aim Identify difficulties and needs of the first time parents related to the interaction with the newborn and to the adjustment to the parental role. Method Qualitative study using the descriptive phenomenological approach. Inform consent was obtained during the hospitalization after childbirth. Saturation of data was obtained with a group of 25 first-time fathers, using unstructured interviews in the parents home place. Results Two essentials structures emerged from the meaning units of the experiences of the first-time parents adjustment to the postpartum, the first described a positive experience and the second one a negative experience. From the positive key constituents we highlighted: getting to know the baby; the sense of responsibility to the parental role; the sense of family; the greater cooperation and union of the couple. As negative key constituents: insecurity in baby care; experiencing parenthood with emotional vulnerability that is labelled as a period of lack of time to take care of oneself; less time for the couple and less social activity. Conclusions This phenomenological study provides a deep understanding of the needs of first-time parents with the essentials structures of the process of paternal adjustment in the period of the post-partum, and generates implications to improve it, specially the postpartum home visit, support groups in the Health Centres, and a maternity postpartum phone line as suggested by the participants.