This qualitative study aimed to identify how mothers perceive pain in their undernourished children. Semistructured interviews were realized at the Institute for the Prevention of Malnutrition and Exceptionality - IPREDE (Fortaleza-Ceará-Brazil). Participants were mothers who accompanied their undernourished children. Data analysis revealed the following categories: Coming to the Institution; Pain description and How to take care of the pain. Society needs to take actions, in respect of citizens' rights and culture, with a view to reverting this picture of pain in undernourished children.
child; malnutrition; pain; empathy