Functionality of the support to the family of children with pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To know the composition and functioning of the social support used by the family of children with pneumonia.

METHODS: A qualitative study was carried out with fourteen families of children under five years old hospitalized for pneumonia, coming from regions of greater social vulnerability in a city in the state of São Paulo, from November 2015 to May 2016. The theoretical reference used was the Calgary Family Assessment Model, and the Bardin Thematic Content Analysis was used as method.

RESULTS: The nuclear family and the extended family constitute the social support used; the support network accessed includes the Primary Health Care, Emergency Care Units and hospitals, observing intersectoral referral and counter-referral failure.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The family reorganization proved to be relevant and effective in times of crisis; the families seek the secondary level of health care to solve the illness of their child.