[Diagnosis of low vision in children: feelings and comprehension of mothers].
OBJECTIVE
To identify mothers' feeling and reactions when facing the diagnosis of low vision and their comprehension of this diagnosis.


METHODS
This study features a qualitative research. Eleven low vision children's mothers attended at the Visual Stimulation Service of Ophthalmology Sector of Unicamp Hospital were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The main issues of the interview were: feelings when faced with the diagnosis and comprehension of this low vision diagnosis.


RESULTS
The results revealed mothers' fear of blindness and a low comprehension of the meaning of low vision, and their interpretation of medical diagnosis according to their subjectivity.


CONCLUSIONS
The way the diagnosis is transmitted to the families is extremely important. Parents cultural, economical and emotional background may often impair the diagnosis comprehension.
Figueiredo
Mirela de Oliveira
Mde O
Centro de Investigação em Pediatria, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brasil. mirelafigueiredo@yahoo.com.br
Silva
Roberto Benedito de Paiva e
RB
Nobre
Maria Inês Rubo
MI
D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D032882:Comprehension; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology