Care for children with special health needs: perspective of family caregivers

Abstract

Objective: To know the perceptions of family caregivers about the daily care of Children with Special Health Needs (CSHCN). Methods: The research had a qualitative approach, of the exploratory descriptive type. It was carried out in the context of Primary Care in a small town in the midwest region of Rio Grande do Sul conducted with 9 relatives of CSHCN aged between 21 and 63 years. Data collection was carried out in October 2020, through a semi-structured individual interview. And for data analysis, Minayo's Thematic Content Analysis was used. Results: The study showed that most caregivers are mothers, who feel anxious, incapable and many unprotected in relation to the demands of this new life that involves the whole family. In this sense, the necessary and fundamental support of the Multiprofessional Network is evident, which is in the area of ​​health, education and social assistance. Conclusion: Thus, it was possible to identify that after the diagnosis, family caregivers of CSHCN feel challenged and sometimes insufficient. This highlights the need for an effective support network, bringing family members and friends together, working together with health and education professionals.