Maternal Strategy for Coping with Confirmation of Zika Virus Infection During Pregnancy: Reflection on the Neurodevelopment of Their Children

Abstract Zika virus infection in pregnant women results in changes in neuropsychomotor development in affected children, being an important stress factor for these women. This study aimed to evaluate the mothers' coping strategy in this situation and how this was reflected in the neurodevelopment of their children. Cross-sectional study with 46 women and their children. The coping strategy was assessed using the Brief Cope Inventory, applied to mothers, and the children's neuropsychomotor development was assessed at 24 months of age using the Bayley III Scales. The predominant coping strategy most frequently used by mothers was approach (73.9%), with emphasis on the planning component. The use of the avoidant coping was associated with lower scores on the Bayley III scale, with self-blame being the most used component on this scale. Religion was the auxiliary support component most used by mothers. The use of avoidant as the predominant coping strategy by mothers was associated with the worst results in the assessment of child development and reinforces the need to support these women, so that they can deal more directly with the feelings arising from the situations they experience.