Care of children with a chronic condition in primary care: Challenges to the healthcare model

Abstract

This is a qualitative study aiming to analyze the healthcare model for children with chronic conditions in Primary Health Care. The study subjects were nurses, nurse technicians and auxiliary nurses working in 16 basic health units in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and later analyzed from the critical perspective, seeking to identify the common themes in the empirical material. Data revealed how primary health care professionals identified and reached children with chronic conditions, as well as how they presented the care actions performed. However, the development of a model of care for children with chronic conditions in primary health that considers their specific health needs constitutes a challenge.