A criança com Síndrome de Down: repercussões na dinâmica familiar

Abstract

The birth of a baby is an event in family life. But when it comes to the birth of a baby with disabilities, this moment can be characterized by anxieties, conflicts and the difficulty in accepting the special condition of the child (Pereira-Silva, Dessen, 2002). Aiming to investigate the effects of living with a child with Down syndrome in family dynamics, we carried out a review of the literature by surveying the articles in the databases Scielo and Lilacs, published in Portuguese and Spanish, without restriction date. Eleven papers were selected to compose the study. The results showed various effects on family life that can be observed from the moment of receiving the diagnosis the family up to the expectations of parents about child development. Parents experience a moment of mourning initial, continuing, in general, to acceptance and subsequent adaptation. The family lives with some difficulties in everyday life, such as increase in financial expenses due to special health care needs that the child, difficulty in communicating with the child, possibly related to the delay in language acquisition (characteristic of the syndrome). The family also refers to the socialization of children as a serious problem. Mental disability can influence the child's ability to understand people and be understood, helping behaviors of agitation and nervousness. Social prejudice towards disability was also a difficulty mentioned by the parents, as well as more time consuming to care for the child. The arrival of baby with Down syndrome can also bring about constructive changes in family dynamics, among them, a closeness and unity among members. It was felt that the lack of knowledge about the syndrome may influence the expectations of parents about their son, and there may be expectations or beyond the capacity of the child. There was the importance of preparing health professionals to inform and clarify the diagnosis, so that both the child and the family have a better quality of life.