One aimed to know the causes of hospitalization among children under five years in a public hospital in Paraná to subsidize nursing actions. A descriptive, quantitative, exploratory study was carried out, with inferential statistical analysis. One assessed 722 medical records from 2005-2009. It was observed that children under one year had more hospitalizations (42%) than those with one to five years; a higher percentage of male admissions (65%); respiratory diseases predominated (56%) compared to all other; mean length of stay of 9.4 days for those under one year and 8.3 days for children under five years; 95% were discharged as the outcome. This profile helps to direct nursing care, incorporating the data in planning, both in primary care and in hospital.
Hospitalization; Morbidity; Health services; Child
