[Matriarchy of misery: hunger in a Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Care Center in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil].

This study evaluated hunger in a Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Care Center (CAPSi) located in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro. The combination of qualitative and quantitative methods aimed to provide a comprehensive view of hunger at the CAPSi, considering the perspectives of both family members and staff. A cross-sectional study was conducted, in which 214 family members were interviewed and completed a sociodemographic questionnaire along with the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale, allowing classification of food insecurity as mild, moderate, or severe (hunger). Qualitative strategies included participant observation with the preparation of field diaries, and three focus groups with 16 staff members. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, while qualitative data were analyzed using the hermeneutic-dialectical method. Most participants were women (94.4%); 78.6% experienced some level of food insecurity, and 17.4% faced hunger. Qualitative analysis produced the following categories: (1) alienation from hunger; (2) resigned conformism; (3) matriarchy of misery; (4) worker overload; (5) loss of service identity. In the context of the dismantling of psychosocial care, caregiving is shaped by the management of misery.