The Role of Nurses in Raising Awareness Among Nursing Professionals Regarding the Welcoming Care of Women in the Voluntary Relinquishment Process: A bibliographical review

Abstract

Introduction: The voluntary relinquishment of children for adoption is a right established in the Brazilian legal system; however, it is still permeated by social stigma, moral judgments, and institutional weaknesses. In this context, the role of nursing professionals becomes essential to ensure ethical welcoming care, qualified listening, adequate guidance, and respect for women’s autonomy, especially in healthcare services where pregnant or postpartum women may express the desire to relinquish their child for adoption. Objective: To describe the voluntary relinquishment of children for adoption in the Brazilian context, highlighting women’s reproductive rights, existing public policies, and the role of nurses in promoting ethical, welcoming, and nonjudgmental care. Methods: This is a bibliographic review conducted through searches in the databases of the Virtual Health Library (BVS). Articles published between 2016 and 2026, written in Portuguese, and available in full text were selected. The selection followed thematic relevance criteria, resulting in nine studies that addressed legal, social, and emotional aspects related to voluntary relinquishment, as well as the role of healthcare professionals in this process. Results: The decision to relinquish a child for adoption is permeated by factors such as socioeconomic vulnerability, lack of a support network, family conflicts, and psychological distress. It was also observed that, although this right is legally guaranteed, social stigmas and institutional practices persist and may influence or constrain women’s autonomy. It was highlighted that many women experience feelings of guilt, ambivalence, and social invisibility, in addition to possible late emotional impacts, such as the desire to reunite with the child. Nurses play a strategic role, as they are often the first professionals to welcome pregnant women in healthcare services. Their practice, based on qualified listening, clear information, and appropriate referral to the protection network, contributes to guaranteeing women’s rights and preventing situations of abandonment, violence, or rights violations. Conclusion: The effective implementation of voluntary relinquishment as a reproductive right depends on the continuous training of healthcare professionals, the strengthening of intersectoral work, and the consolidation of humanized practices that respect maternal autonomy and ensure the comprehensive protection of the child.