The objective of this study was to describe how care for the premature and low birth weight children occurs after their discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit in the follow-up of these children in the context of their domiciles. This is a descriptive study guided by the hermeneutic approach, with the data comprehension based upon thematic analysis. Six families with respective children discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit in Cascavel-PR, Brazil participated in this study through home visits made during the three first months after their hospital discharge. The reports express aspects of care for these children in their homes and their experiences with the primary care and specialized health care services. The families expressed their itinerary in the health services available in search of continued health care for their children after hospital discharge. That itinerary was marked by barriers to access, fragile links, and institutional vulnerability of the health care services available, which generated insecurity, dissatisfaction, and non-effectiveness in follow-up care for these children.
Premature; Infant, low birth weight; Continuity of patient care; Family; Neonatal nursing