Vivências e percepções de familiares sobre a hospitalização da criança em unidade pediátrica.

Aim: to identify the perceptions experienced by accompanying relatives of children during hospitalization. Method: exploratory, qualitative research carried out in a pediatric sector in the interior of Mato Grosso from May to June 2015. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with the relatives of hospitalized children and submitted to thematic analysis. Results: the mothers were more present as companions during the hospitalization and, in some cases, was the first contact with the pediatrics sector. The physical structure was considered satisfactory. Some of the feelings and expressed attitudes were despair, fear, impotence/helplessness, longing, and hope. Final considerations: the study pointed out the need of reception of family members by the entire health team during the hospitalization of the child, including them in the treatment process, attending to their physical and psychological needs, thus contributing to the improvement of child care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]