Introduction:

The puerperium is the period in which the woman experiences several changes, which can contribute to the decrease in the quantity and quality of sleep. In this context, the nursing diagnosis of sleep disturbance stands out.

Objective:

To identify the related factors and the defining characteristics of the nursing diagnosis of alteration of the sleep pattern, as well as its associations, in puerperal patients registered and monitored in basic health units.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study carried out in basic health units, in the period from January to April 2016. The sample was made up of 30 puerperal women and the data collection was carried out through a structured interview with questions about the presence or absence of related factors and defining characteristics of the diagnosis under study. The data were quantitatively analyzed and Fisher's exact test was applied to verify the association between the variables.

Results:

Only the related factor of conflictive pattern of maternal and child sleep showed statistical association with the diagnosis. The significant defining characteristics were dissatisfaction with sleep, verbal reports of not feeling well after resting, reports of being awake, reports of difficulty sleeping, and decreased functional capacity.

Conclusions:

The identification of the related factor and the most significant defining characteristics help the nurse identify the diagnosis in puerperal women, as well as select the interventions that should be implemented in the care.

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