EVALUATION OF SELF-CARE NEEDS OF POSTPARTUM WOMEN: APPLICATION OF DOROTHEA OREM'S THEORY

Abstract

The postpartum period is a time of physical, emotional, and social changes, during which women require continuous guidance to develop self-care and adapt to their new maternal routine. However, this care often shows gaps, whether due to low adherence to postpartum consultations or insufficient information, which can lead to insecurity and preventable complications. Understanding the needs of this phase is essential to improving nursing practice and promoting interventions that address the real demands of postpartum women. This study considers that Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Theory can support the organization of nursing consultations, fostering autonomy and well-being. To assess the self-care needs presented by women in the postpartum period in the light of Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Theory. This is an integrative literature review with a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory approach, conducted in the LILACS, MEDLINE/PubMed, SciELO, and BDENF databases. Articles published between 2019 and August 2025 were included, using controlled descriptors combined with Boolean operators according to the strategy: (“postpartum period” AND “self-care”) AND (“nursing” OR “health needs”). Studies in Portuguese, English, and Spanish addressing postpartum self-care based on Orem’s Theory were selected. The analysis identified that the main needs involve rest, nutrition, hygiene, emotional support, and follow-up. Among the most frequent difficulties, maternal overload and limited communication between the healthcare team and postpartum women were highlighted. Educational interventions and support-education strategies were found to strengthen women's autonomy and promote better health outcomes. It is concluded that nursing plays a central role in promoting postpartum self-care and that the use of Orem’s Theory contributes to more comprehensive and humanized care.