Portuguese / English: www.scielo.br/reeusp RESUMO O estudo, de abordagem qualitativa, teve por objetivo compreender como as famíli-as percebem a própria presença na unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica e neonatal, e a aceitação dessa presença por parte dos profissionais de saúde. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista semiestruturada a 14 pais de crianças internadas na UTI pediátrica e neonatal de dois hospitais na Região Noroeste do Paraná. Para a interpretação dos dados, optou-se pela análise de conteúdo. Os resultados revelaram o sofrimento vivenciado pelos pais, as alterações que ocorreram na dinâmica familiar em face da hospitalização do filho, e a percepção dos benefícios da sua permanência junto à criança, do acolhimento e dos cuidados recebidos. Concluiu-se que os pais valorizam o fato de os profissionais demonstrarem respeito e atenção para com eles e a criança, criando elos de afetividade e confiança, além de gratidão pelo cuidado. DESCRITORES ABSTRACTThis qualitative-based study aimed to understand how families perceive their own presence at the Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, as well as the acceptance of their presence by healthcare workers. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 14 parents of children admitted to the pediatric and neonatal ICU at two hospitals in northwestern Paraná State, Brazil. Content analysis was chosen to interpret the data. The results revealed the suffering experienced by parents, the alteration of family dynamics resulting from the child's hospitalization, and the perception of the benefits of remaining close to the child in terms of welcoming and quality of care. It was concluded that parents value the professionals' respect and attention towards the child, thus creating bonds of affection, trust and gratitude for the care received. KEY WORDSChild hospitalized. Intensive Care Units. Professional-family relations. User embracement. RESUMENEste estudio, de abordaje cualitativo, tuvo por objetivo comprender como las familias perciben su propia presencia en la unidad de terapia intensiva pediátrica y neonatal, y, la aceptación de esa presencia por parte de los profesionales de la salud. Los datos fueron recolectados por medio de entrevista semiestructurada a 14 padres de niños internados en la UTI pediátrica y neonatal de dos hospitales en la Región Noroeste de Paraná. Para la interpretación de los datos se optó por el análisis de contenido. Los resultados revelaron el sufrimiento experimentado por los padres, las alteraciones que ocurrieron en la dinámica familiar frente a la hospitalización del hijo y la percepción de los beneficios de su permanencia junto al niño, del acogimiento y del cuidado recibidos. Se concluyó que los padres valorizan el hecho de los profesionales demonstrar respeto y atención para con ellos y el niño, creando vínculos de afecto y confianza, además de gratitud por el cuidado. DESCRIPTORESNiño hospitalizado. Unidades de Terapia Intensiva. Relaciones profesional-familia.

The purpose of the study was to identify problems perceived by mothers in caring of low birth weight babies and to understand the resources used while facing health complications. The qualitative study was developed together with six mothers living in Maringá, PR, Brazil. Data were collected from February to September 2008 in four home visits through semi-structured interviews. The mothers experienced difficulties related to healthcare professionals and services, infant's characteristics, changes in family routine and the return to work. To confront the problems, they used their own resources or medical care. It was concluded that the mother and the family need professional monitoring and support to better care for the low birth weight baby at home.

No abstract

This is a descriptive-exploratory study of quali-quantitative nature accomplished with students living in a boarding school, with the objective of identifying the family characteristics, how the option for the boarding school was made, and to know what the separation from the family meant to the student. Thirty students from the three stages of High School, distributed in two groups were studied. Group I consisted of 15 students that sought three or more times the institution health clinic for assistance. Group II consisted of students of the same sex, age and classroom and that had not sought the clinic. The results revealed that the participants were between 14 and 18 years of age, arriving mainly from Southeast (36.7%) and Midwest (23.3%), and distributed equally in the three years of the High School program. In the two groups there was predominance of nuclear families, formed with three to six members and most of the students lived with the parents before coming to the institution. In 2 cases (1 in each group), the decision for the boarding school was made by the parents, in 10 cases it was made by the adolescents, and in 18 cases it was a joint decision (61.1% in Group I and 38.9% in Group II). Half of the students reported that their relationship with the family was very good, and that the arrival to the boarding school turned it even better. It also applies to the students that had referred negative aspects in their family relationship. In spite of the separation from the family, of the coexistence with different people and of the existence of norms and rules, the experience in a boarding school regime was evaluated positively. It is concluded that the option for boarding school involved mainly the possibility of living a new experience associated to the offer of better studies and that the boarding school is seen by the students as an alternative for their individual growth.