Adoção de crianças com quadro de adoecimento crônico: investigação sobre a rede de apoio social

Abstract

The general objective of this Dissertation is to understand the process of adopting children with any kind of chronic illness, from the adoptive parents point’ of view and also that of the social support network. To achieve this goal, four studies were developed, one of which is a documentary database and the other three are multiple case studies of a qualitative nature. Study 1 aimed to present an integrative review on necessary adoptions and how this topic has been investigated and discussed in the scientific literature. By searching the databases / libraries LILACS, SciELO, PePSIC, and PsycINFO (2013-2017) 26 studies were retrieved. Most prioritized as necessary the adoption of children older than two years, with few studies on children with disabilities, sickness and siblings. Four families that adopted children with any kind of chronic illness in a city in the interior of Minas Gerais were interviewed in Studies 2 and 3. The interviews were submitted to content analysis and interpreted through Positive Psychology and the literature of the area. Study 2 aimed to understand the main difficulties, facilitators and adaptive aspects experienced by parents with adoptive children with some kind of chronic illness. The parents indicated the lack of information on the part of health institutions and professionals, myths about adoption, acceptance regarding parenthood through adoption, the role of Child Protective Services and the Family Court, the lack of knowledge about chronic illness, and financial difficulties as the main difficulties. However, they also highlighted facilitating aspects such as love, unity, bonding, and the building of parenthood. Study 3 aimed to know the social support network of people who adopted children with chronic illness, as well as their perceptions regarding the support received. They pointed out that family and friends provided meaningful social interactions and were the primary means of helping care for the child. Positive institutions highlighted, the official health system, and the Adoption Support Group were places where they sought information and reception. Three types of social support were received: emotional, material, and information. Study 4, on the other hand, aimed to investigate, along with the social support network of families that adopted children with chronic illness, the feelings on the adoption and the support offered. Ten people who represented the social support network of the four families interviewed in Studies 2 and 3 were interviewed, being eight women and two men. In relation to adoption, they brought elements related to spirituality, characterizing adoption as an act of love, an option to constitute a family, as well as aspects related to infertility and charity. In terms of the support offered to families, it was possible to perceive that acting as a member of the social support network is a potentate of meaning in life, since these people are able to use their personal skills and resources to contribute to the development of others. The thesis pointed out that the adoption of children with chronic illness can be favored not only from the conditions and personal characteristics of the parents, but also by the engagement of the social support network. Reinforcing the need for such support in the preparatory courses for adoption and also in the psychosocial assessments carried out by the Judiciary can contribute to the adoption of more successful processes, providing a better exercise of parenthood, as well as health care attentive to the needs of these families (CAPES).

As adoções necessárias envolvem casos de crianças com mais de dois anos, com irmãos, com deficiência, adoecimento crônico ou inter-racial. Este estudo teve por objetivo apresentar uma revisão integrativa acerca das adoções necessárias e de como esse tema vem sendo investigado e discutido. A partir de uma busca nas bases LILACS, SciELO, PePSIC e PsycINFO (2013-2017), foram recuperados 26 estudos. A escassa produção internacional pode estar relacionada ao fato de que as adoções necessárias são uma categoria própria da realidade brasileira. A maior parte dos estudos priorizou como necessárias as adoções de crianças maiores de dois anos, com poucos estudos sobre crianças com deficiência, com quadro de adoecimento e com irmãos. Recomenda-se uma maior investigação em relação às adoções inter-raciais, bem como maior conscientização dos pretendentes quanto ao perfil das crianças para adoção nas instituições de acolhimento, o que deve ser acompanhado por maior visibilidade do tema no campo científico.

The necessary adoptions encompass cases of children over two years of age, with siblings, disabilities, chronic or interracial illness. This study aimed to present an integrative review of the necessary adoptions and how this topic has been investigated and discussed. From a search in the databases LILACS, SciELO, PePSIC and PsycINFO (2013-2017), 26 studies were retrieved. The scarce international production may be related to the fact that the necessary adoptions are a category in the Brazilian reality. Most of the studies prioritised as necessary the adoption of children children over two years of age, with few studies on children with disabilities, sickness and siblings. Further research on interracial adoptions is recommended, as well as greater awareness of the candidates to adopt regarding the profile of children for adoption in host institutions, which should be accompanied by greater visibility of the topic in the scientific field.

Este estudo de caso coletivo teve por objetivo compreender os principais aspectos dificultadores, facilitadores e adaptativos vivenciados por pais com filhos por adoção com algum quadro de adoecimento crônico. Foram entrevistadas quatro famílias que adotaram crianças com adoecimento crônico em uma cidade do interior de Minas Gerais. As entrevistas foram interpretadas pela Psicologia Positiva. Os pais apontaram como aspectos dificultadores a falta de informação por parte de instituições e profissionais de saúde, mitos acerca da adoção, falta de conhecimento e dificuldades financeiras. As facilidades foram os vínculos e a construção da parentalidade. As principais estratégias de enfrentamento foram relacionadas à família nuclear, principalmente quanto ao cuidado para prevenção de situações de crises e agravos à saúde. Esse tipo de adoção pode ser favorecido não apenas a partir de características pessoais dos pais, mas fundamentalmente pelo fortalecimento de instituições responsáveis por acolher, cuidar e orientar, adensando as redes de apoio disponíveis.

This collective case study aimed to understand the main difficulties, facilitating and adaptive aspects experienced by parents with adoptive children that suffer from any chronic illness. Four families with adoptive children suffering from chronic illness from a city in the interior of Minas Gerais were interviewed. The interviews were interpreted through Positive Psychology. The parents pointed the lack of information on the part of health institutions and professionals, myths about adoption, lack of knowledge, and financial difficulties as difficulties. The facilitators were the bonds and the building of parenthood. The main coping strategies were related to the core family, especially regarding care for preventing crisis situations and health problems. This type of adoption can be favored not only by the personal characteristics of the parents, but fundamentally by the strengthening of institutions responsible for receiving, caring and guiding; broadening the available support networks.

Este estudo de caso coletivo teve por objetivo conhecer a rede de apoio social de pessoas que adotaram crianças com adoecimento crônico, bem como suas percepções em relação ao apoio recebido. Foram entrevistadas quatro famílias que adotaram crianças com adoecimento crônico em uma cidade do interior de Minas Gerais. Foram utilizados Diagrama de Escolta, entrevista e diário de campo. O corpus foi interpretado pela Psicologia Positiva. A quantidade de membros nas redes de apoio variou de oito a 27 pessoas, elencando familiares e amigos como convivências frequentes e principais fontes de ajuda. O sistema oficial de saúde e o Grupo de Apoio à Adoção foram locais em que buscaram informação e acolhimento. Foram elencados três tipos de apoio: emocional, material e de informação. Apesar da presença de uma rede de apoio, ficam evidentes ações voltadas exclusivamente para o cuidado frente ao adoecimento, e não para o sistema familiar de forma integral.

This collective case study aimed to get to know the social support network of people who adopted children suffering from chronic illness, as well as their perceptions regarding the support received. Four families that adopted children suffering from chronic illness from a city in the interior of Minas Gerais were interviewed. Escort Diagram, interview and field diary were used. The corpus was interpreted through Positive Psychology. The number of members in the support networks varied from eight to 27 people; relatives and friends being listed as frequent familiarity and main sources of help. The official health system and the Adoption Support Group were places where they sought information and refuge. Three types of support were listed: emotional, material and information. Despite the presence of a support network, actions aimed exclusively at care in face of an illness, and not at the family system as a whole, are evident.

Este estudo teve por objetivo investigar, junto à rede de apoio social de famílias que adotaram crianças com adoecimento crônico, sentidos sobre adoção e apoio oferecido. Foram entrevistadas dez pessoas da rede de apoio de quatro famílias que adotaram crianças com adoecimento crônico em uma cidade do interior de Minas Gerais. A análise foi conduzida a partir da Psicologia Positiva. A adoção foi caracterizada como ato de amor e opção relacionada à infertilidade e caridade, juntamente com elementos da espiritualidade. Em termos do apoio oferecido às famílias, a atuação como membro da rede de apoio social foi potencializadora de sentido de vida, uma vez que essas pessoas conseguiram empregar recursos pessoais para contribuir com o desenvolvimento de outrem. Compreender a importância dessas redes pode ser útil para informar melhor os pretendentes à adoção em termos das possíveis necessidades que podem ser deflagradas ao longo do processo de adaptação, contribuindo para adoções bem-sucedidas.

This study aimed to investigate, along with the social support network of families who adopted children suffering from chronic illness, feelings on adoption and the support offered. Ten people from the support network of four families who adopted children suffering from chronic illness from a city in the interior of Minas Gerais were interviewed. The analysis was conducted through Positive Psychology. Adoption was characterized as an act of love and an option related to infertility and charity, along with spirituality elements. In terms of the support offered to families, acting as a member of the social support network was a potentate of life, since these people were able to use personal resources to contribute to the development of others. Understanding the importance of such networks can be useful in better informing adoption candidates in terms of possible needs that can be triggered throughout the adaptation process, contributing to successful adoption.