[The clinical and social vulnerability of children with special healthcare needs].

Children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) require increasing care by relatives and health services. Due to the 'invisibility' of this group, a qualitative studied was carried out to analyze and to discuss the dimension of physical care provided to CSHCN. The studied included the analyses of the patients' records, interviews of family caretakers in a university hospital in southern Brazil, and the application of a sensitive creative method. Findings showed that these children are clinically and socially vulnerable. Consequently, during home care, their caretakersf'ce challenges related to care complexity and to the fact of being women. The presence of the State is scarce, and follow-up nursing after discharge is absent. It is recommended that these caretakers are taught some nursing knowledge, and that actions are taken to improve prenatal care services as a preventive measure.