Abstract
To describe the continuity of care for children with special healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic through the perception of their caregivers in the Northeast of Brazil. Qualitative descriptive-exploratory research carried out between June and September 2020, in a municipality in the Northeast of Brazil. Eleven caregivers participated through semi-structured interviews conducted at home. The data were submitted to thematic content analysis. The social isolation period and the suspension of health services affected the continuity of care, configuring the category "Implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for the continuity of care". Caregivers expressed fear of children contracting the coronavirus, characterizing the category "Fears and uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic in view of the vulnerability of children with special healthcare needs". Caregivers' reports revealed problems in the continuity of care for the studied cohort. Therefore, health care practices must be rethought in times of pandemic.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic began in China at the end of 2019 and spread rapidly across all continents
We show that the services most used by CSHCN were specialized services, such as physiotherapy, in the studied municipality; and consultations with specialists, in establishments in other municipalities in the state’s health network
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented itself as a major challenge for CSHCN, considering the high vulnerability of this cohort’s health conditions
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic began in China at the end of 2019 and spread rapidly across all continents. The outbreak of the new coronavirus was declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 30, 2020; and, on February 3, 2020, Brazil declared COVID-19 a national public health emergency[1,2]. The acute respiratory syndrome caused by the new coronavirus has affected all age groups, causing everything from mild symptoms to severe respiratory conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented itself as one of the greatest health challenges on a global scale in this century[2,3], especially among individuals with chronic diseases who need continued monitoring by health services
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