Representations and Practices of On-Duty Professionals of a Pediatric Hospital in Buenos Aires City

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Since the approval of the Mental Health National Law No. 26.657 (2010), a process of reform has started for the care of people with mental illnesses. Psychiatric hospitals must be replaced by community services, and admissions will only be carried out in general hospitals. For children and adolescents there is only one pediatric hospital in Buenos Aires city that admits them in general rooms through the emergency room. OBJECTIVES: To describe representations and practices of on-duty professionals from the above mentioned hospital related to the care of children and adolescents aged 0-18 years with mental disorders, identifying changes triggered by the Law. METHODS: A retrospective, exploratory and descriptive research was performed. It used qualitative techniques: semi-structured interviews to professionals from different fields (nursing, pediatrics, psychology, psychiatry, social work and toxicology) conducted during 2014-2015. Content analysis was performed. RESULTS: According to the professionals, their practices are in line with the paradigm proposed by the Law, and the obstacles in care and implementation are due to insufficient intra and extra hospital resources, especially in general admission rooms. CONCLUSIONS: The transformation of practices according to the Law should be accompanied by the participation of the different social actors and public policies in mental health.