Relatives of Children Bearing Sickle Cell Anemia: Knowledge and Practice

Objective: l his work aims to describe the type of care provided by relatives for children with sickle cell anemia according to Colliere. Methods: It is descriptive study with a qualitative approach, which was carried out with relatives of children bearing sickle cell anemia in a general hospital in Vitoria city, Espirito Santo State, Brazil, by using semi-structured interviews. Data were interpreted in light of the Colliere's Theoretical Reference and submitted to Thematic Analysis. Results: Families had to deal with the health care professionals' lack of skill needed to convey the diagnostic. Also, there was a predominance of the maintenance care related to the time of diagnosis, playing, daily medication, body hydration, diet, elimination, and clothing. Nonetheless, repair care was restricted to emergency situations. Conclusion: It is necessary to train the professionals who care for children with sickle cell anemia to better meet their needs and those of their families.