Rev. Soc. Bras. Enferm. Ped.2009;9(1):33-6.
Playing for a child with HIV: seeking to understand its experience
DOI: 10.31508/1676-3793200900006
Abstract
Previous note of qualitative research that aims to understand how a child experiences HIV. Participants are pre-school and school children in outpatient treatment. Data were collected during a Therapeutic Play session and submitted to qualitative content analysis. These data revealed the following: children understand they have a disease shared with their parents, which is a secret; they are afraid of death; they are concerned about respiratory manifestations and fever; they see health professionals as hostile and untrustworthy and the treatment as difficult and invasive, even though it is the only way not to be ill; they desire family structure reorganization and consider playing to be important. Therapeutic Play constitutes an important instrument of nursing intervention and communication in this population of children.
Keywords: HIV; Pediatric nursing; Play and playthings; Therapeutic Play