Health Care of Children With Cancer in the Brazilian Scientific Literature

Abstract

The rate of childhood cancer varies from 1 to 4.6% according to population database registers in Brazil. It is a contemporary specialty and its body of knowledge and practice is under development. This study aimed to review Brazilian scientific literature about childhood cancer. The selected articles were full-text and online accessible. They were classified according to the following variables: publishing date, geographic region, study’s field and type and nature and tendency analysis. It is a literature review in the quantitative-qualitative approach. The research was developed in the Lilacs database. 44 articles were selected. The Brazilian Southeast region showed the highest number of published articles followed by the South. The number of publications is ascendant during the period 1982-2007. In the Health Science area, research is highlighted, especially in Medicine and Nursing fields. The main nature of studies was clinical epidemiological followed by social and cultural ones. The tendency was absolutely curative. It was concluded that the process of becoming sick in childhood cancer is complex, impairing child, family and professional bio-psycho-social components. The pediatric oncology represents a challenge to both researchers and multi-professional staff. Challenges are related to preventive and palliative caring, showing that this issue has gaps in the Brazilian scientific knowledge.