From March to August 1993, parents of 57 children between 0 and 7 years old, with congenital cardiopathies, hospitalized for surgical treatment were studied; 94.5% came from the urban zone and 86% from familiar groups who not exceeded 5 people. In the familiar group, 56.5% of the fathers and 58% of the mothers had elementary school; 41 % of the fathers had technical occupation and 72% of the mothers had no professional qualification (housewives). The following subjects were studied: a) professional changes of parents; b) modifying in interpersonal relationship; c) difficulties fo face the surgery moment; d) future hopes related to the surgical child. The results showed that, for young couples of low medium social class, concerning the stage of familiar structuring, a sick member and the fact of the cardiac surgery, present stress and some avoid to speak about the future.
Family and surgical treated children; Family and hospitalized children