Family arrangements and implications for the health work with children in a hospital

The family has gone through several transformations over time. Today one can see different family configurations, including uncles, grandparents, godparents. These groups are characterized by relations of mutual, direct, intense and lasting influence, which are internalized by its members. In healthcare, especially in the area of child health, there is an encounter of workers, patients and families. This study aimed, therefore, to investigate whether health professionals identify effects of different family configurations on their work. The research, qualitative and of exploratory nature, was conducted in the pediatric unit of a university hospital. The participants, selected by convenience, were professionals of the eight formations active in the higher level unit: physician, psychologist, physiotherapist, social worker, pharmacist, physical educator, dietitian and nurse. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and interpreted through content analysis. The results were aggregated into four categories: "The concept of family", "The role of the family", "Most frequent Family configuration" and "Implications for health work". We noticed that workers recognize the presence of different family arrangements and suffer when identify demands that go beyond the prescribed work, such as exercising the maternal and paternal functions.