Social support and network to child development and growth in pandemic times: social vulnerability families perspectives

• Grant number: 22/08015-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2022
• End date: August 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing - Public Health Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Diene Monique Carlos
• Grantee: Maísa Rodrigues Françoloso
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Child growth and development encompasses physical, neurological and social aspects. The family is the primary environment for stimulation, including school and community settings. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, children were impacted with health, social and economic measures, restricting them to only broader social contacts. When coupled with social environment vulnerabilities, marginalization and discrimination, children and families residing in areas of high social vulnerability are particularly at higher risk. The objective will be to analyze the social support networks that ensure healthy child growth and development from the perspective of high social vulnerability families during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a qualitative, strategic social research that will be carried out in a Family Health Strategy Unit (ESF) in a municipality in the interior of the State of São Paulo. The data collection from the families will be done through: (i) the analysis of medical records; (ii) the elaboration of Social Personal Network Minimum Maps; and (iii) semi-structured interviews. The analysis of the results will be by reflective thematic analysis. It is understood that building this knowledge from the concept of network and social support seeks to overcome an individualized care focused only on the child, since the child and the family need to be surrounded by a network that protects and supports them, with a salutogenic view. This object of study is essential to Nursing, which, as a social practice, is called upon to reflect on the contemporary demands that are presented to qualified care. Because of the privileged place it occupies in health teams, it can use the knowledge produced here to qualify the care and management in Primary Health Care and the child health agenda.