Implications of long hospitalization for the caregivers of chronically sick children: social service performance / Implicações da longa hospitalização às cuidadoras de crianças adoecidas cronicamente: atuação do serviço social

Implications of long hospitalization for the caregivers of chronically sick children: social service performance

Abstract

Objective: To describe the implications of the long period of hospitalization for the psychological and social dimensions of caregivers of children with complex chronic health conditions. Methodology: This is qualitative research carried out with caregivers of chronically ill children in long hospitalization in a pediatric hospital in Bahia. Data collection was carried out in the period between February 23 and March 9, 2021, remotely, through a semi-structured interview. To systematize the data, content analysis was used. Results: Six caregivers participated in the study. And four categories of analysis emerged: Withdrawal from the socio-family support network; Psychosocial pains that permeate hospital admission; (Des) Humanization of Care; and Importance of the performance of the Social Work professional. Conclusion: It was identified the need for a professional action that attends the family in an integral way, consistent with the qualified confrontation to the reduction of the damages caused by the long hospitalization of children, in order to value the humanization of care.