ABSTRACT
Objective:
to interpret speeches by health professionals and companions about in-hospital institutional violence in childcare practices, based on the Foucauldian concept of discipline.
Method:
a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research study with a pediatric unit from a university hospital in Salvador/Bahia as study field. The study participants were 10 companions of hospitalized children and 39 health professionals. Data collection took place from November 2018 to October 2019 using semi-structured interviews. Discourse analysis in the light of Foucauldian Thought was employed in data interpretation.
Results:
institutional violence in the care practices is understood by the disciplinary device, having the following as elements: time control and spatial separation; control over the bodies; norms and training; and thorough examination. With care being guided by such elements, situations of care omission, disrespect for autonomy and privacy, lack of listening, lack of attention, physical harms, deprivations and multiple manipulations of the children's bodies were identified, resulting in violations of these individuals' human dignity.
Conclusion:
it is necessary for professionals, users, managers and the academic community to propose a change in the modes of care for hospitalized children, strengthening dissemination and debate of human rights in the health services that serve children and their families.
DESCRIPTORS:
Child maltreatment; Hospitalized child; Universal access to health services; Qualitative research