# Sensitive listening of women-mothers caring for children with cancer about self-care

## TL;DR

This study explores how mothers caring for children with cancer experience self-care, highlighting the emotional, physical, and family impacts they face.

## Contribution

The study introduces the Creative Sensitive Method to qualitatively explore self-care experiences of caregiving mothers in a Brazilian context.

## Key findings

- Caregiving mothers experience emotional, psychological, and physical health impacts.
- Child care responsibilities disrupt family dynamics and relationships.
- Institutional support and public policies are critical for improving caregivers' quality of life.

## Abstract

to understand the experiences of mothers who care for children with cancer regarding self-care.

descriptive, qualitative research using the Creative Sensitive Method. Data collection took place at the outpatient clinic of a children’s cancer hospital in Belém, Pará, with 16 participants. These sessions were conducted through creativity and sensitivity dynamics in two sessions. These sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using French discourse analysis, based on Paulo Freire’s theoretical framework.

three main topics emerged: 1) “Impacts on caregiving mothers’ health”, with emotional, psychological, and physical impacts subtopics; 2) “Dedication to child care and its impact on family dynamics”, including the family relationships subtopic; 3) “Institutional support and public policies”.

caregiving mothers face significant impacts on their physical and emotional health, and family dynamics, requiring the implementation of care strategies that consider their experiences and improve their quality of life.

compreender as vivências de mulheres-mães cuidadoras de crianças com câncer sobre o cuidado de si.

pesquisa descritiva, qualitativa, utilizando o Método Criativo Sensível. A coleta de dados ocorreu no ambulatório de hospital oncológico infantil em Belém, Pará, com 16 participantes, através de dinâmicas de criatividade e sensibilidade em dois encontros, os quais foram gravados, transcritos e analisados conforme a análise de discurso francesa, fundamentando-se na base teórica de Paulo Freire.

emergiram três temas principais: 1) “Impactos na saúde da mulher-mãe cuidadora”, com subtemas de impactos emocionais, psicológicos e físicos; 2) “Dedicação ao cuidado da criança e seu impacto na dinâmica familiar”, incluindo o subtema sobre relações familiares; 3) “Apoio institucional e políticas públicas”.

as mulheres-mães cuidadoras enfrentam impactos significativos em sua saúde física e emocional, e dinâmicas familiares, sendo necessária a implementação de estratégias de cuidado que considerem suas vivências, melhorando sua qualidade de vida.