O itinerário percorrido pelos cuidadores de crianças e adolescentes com transtornos mentais na busca por tratamento especializado em Maceió

Abstract

Several factors can interfere with the access of children and adolescents with mental disorders to specialized treatment. In this context, this research aimed to analyze the paths taken by the caregivers of users assisted in a CAPSi in the city of Maceió, seeking to identify the motivations for seeking treatment, the difficulties and strategies used in this process and describe possible factors related to dropping out. This is an exploratory study, descriptive and qualitative approach, whose sample was composed of 29 participants, being 20 in care at CAPSi and 9 dropouts. Data collection was performed through semi-structured interviews, conducted in May and June 2021. The data obtained were submitted to Content Analysis with the help of the Atlas Ti version 9 software. According to the results, the main motivation for seeking treatment was maternal perception of externalizing symptoms in the child at an early age. The therapeutic itinerary was described as a stressful stage, where the strategies for seeking treatment for the mental disorder involved displacement by the networks of basic care, complementary services to the SUS and hospital. Considering the social vulnerability of the participants and the limitations in the articulation of the psychosocial care network of the municipality, the main barriers of access reported were the insufficient number of specialized institutions and professionals, the lack of professional training in primary care, the distance to CAPSi, the long wait for psychiatric care, the denial of mental illness, the stigma, and maternal overload. The identification of the factors that were determinants for abandoning treatment in CAPSi, besides revealing socioeconomic indicators that compromised the engagement in care, also served as a guide to visualize the weaknesses of public policies for child and adolescent mental health, as well as the lack of investment in the sector.