This is a dissertation Programme Postgraduate Sensu Strictu Nursing, School of Nursing and Pharmacy, Federal University of Alagoas. Given that cancer at some point in evolution of the disease patients need to solve food problems, nursing adopts guidance to patients and their families as part of their care process, thus seeking a comprehensive and humane care. Based on this finding , this paper focuses the response of family members of cancer patients to dietary changes presented by the patient seriously ill. Aims to identify the experience of handling the family regarding the power of family severely affected by cancer at home. Qualitative, descriptive and exploratory survey conducted via guided by the Family Management Style Framework model interviews - FMSF , conducted with 10 family caregivers home. The results indicate that the sample had as main characteristics the fact that the caregiver being a woman, aged 51-60 years percapta low family income and parental great proximity to the patient. The families identified the food situation as being inappropriate; view The food usually eaten to cause health disorders in the critically ill patient and difficulty in providing the satisfaction of the biopsychosocial demands related to the supply of food. From the speech was possible to describe the behavior of management having the family caregiver modified the patient's diet in line with what you believe is a healthy, family caregiver modified the preparation and supply of the diet, the family caregiver changed his own attitude. Thus, the consequence perceived by the caregiver which were reflected in the discovery of effective strategies and confirmation of their previously developed skills. / Tendo em vista que os pacientes oncológicos em algum momento de evolução da doença necessitam resolver problemas alimentares, a enfermagem adota a orientação aos pacientes e seus familiares como parte de seu processo cuidar, buscando assim uma assistência integral e mais humana. Com base nesta constatação, este trabalho tem como objeto a resposta dos familiares de pacientes oncológicos às alterações alimentares apresentadas pelo doente gravemente enfermo. Teve como objetivos conhecer a experiência de manejo da família referente a alimentação do familiar gravemente acometido pela doença oncológica no domicílio. Pesquisa qualitativa, descritiva e exploratória realizada através de entrevistas norteadas pelo modelo Family Management Style Framework - FMSF, com 10 cuidadores familiares. Os resultados apontam que a amostra teve como características principais o fato do cuidador ser mulher, na faixa etária de 51 a 60 anos, baixa renda familiar percapta e grande proximidade parental com o paciente. As famílias identificaram a situação alimentar como sendo inapropriada; a comida usualmente ingerida vista como causadora de transtornos a saúde do paciente gravemente enfermo e, tendo ainda dificuldade em proporcionar a satisfação das demandas biopsicossociais relacionadas ao fornecimento da alimentação. A partir das falas dos sujeitos foi possível descrever o comportamento de manejo tendo o cuidador familiar modificado a dieta do paciente em consonância com o que acredita ser uma alimentação saudável; a modificação do preparo e oferta da dieta; além do familiar ter modificado sua própria atitude quando não foi possível alterar a do paciente. Neste movimento, a consequências percebidas pelo cuidador se refletiram no descobrimento de estratégias eficientes na condução do manejo do problema alimentar e na confirmação de suas habilidades previamente desenvolvidas. Contudo, com o agravamento característico da evolução do câncer, o familiar se viu diante de um problema gradativo com evolução negativa, no qual percebeu-se impotente frente as questões de manejo.

Vertical transmission of HIV is still a growing concern in South Africa. Breastfed infants are still at risk as HIV is present in breast milk, leaving HIV-positive mothers unsure of the best feeding option for their infants. However, there are various infant feeding techniques that HIV-positive mothers can use to supplement breastfeeding and flash-heat is one of them. Flash-heat is heat treating expressed breast milk to deactivate HIV for infant feeding. This study explored the possibility of HIV-positive mothers to practice flash-heating method for their infants exclusively for four months as a strategy to prevent vertical transmission of HIV. A descriptive, explorative and contextual design using a mixed method was used to obtain data from mothers in a post natal ward at Tembisa hospital. The mixed method used was useful in identifying the number of HIV-positive mothers who would adopt the flash-heat technique, the characteristics of mothers whom the technique could be promoted to, the factors that influence/affect the choice of infant feeding for these mothers, as well as their feelings associated with the feeding technique. Most (74%) mothers had a positive response to the flash-heat technique compared to 10% who were uncertain. They believed that heat treating their breast milk would result in their infants being HIV-free. In addition they believed that this method was cheaper than formula feeding and expressed positive feelings about touching their breast milk while expressing with no adverse feelings of expressing into a glass jar. Furthermore, findings of this study indicated that HIV-positive mothers in a public health facility would adopt flash-heat as an alternative infant feeding method. Thus practical guidelines to promote this feeding method were proposed. The proposed draft guidelines which promote the use of the flash-heat infant feeding method for HIV-positive mothers in public sector facilities will be communicated to relevant authorities such as the National Department of Health. These guidelines support the new policy shift to exclusive breastfeeding as a child survival strategy in South Africa. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)