Feelings Experienced by Mothers and Children/Adolescents With Sickle Disease in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective to know the feelings of children/adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease perceived by mothers and to identify feelings experienced by mothers of children/adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method qualitative study, developed in a city in the state of Bahia with the participation of 19 mothers of children and adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease. Data were obtained between March and April 2020 through semi-structured interviews via WhatsApp calls, which were submitted to thematic, factor and similarity analysis after transcription. Results the participants reported feeling overloaded due to dedicating themselves full time to the care of their children, who were more vulnerable and emotionally unstable due to social distancing. Therefore, strategies were adopted by mothers, intending to help adaptation and stress reduction - provided by the context of the pandemic - for themselves and in their children. Conclusion mothers of children/adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease need to be supported and instrumentalized in order to implement care centered on the psychoemotional dimension and seek specialized help, especially regarding feelings triggered due to the need to maintain the therapeutic routine of their children in the midst of the pandemic.

Transitions experienced by mothers of children/adolescents with sickle cell disease in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Hemolytic anemia, vaso-occlusive crises, endothelial damage to various organs, release of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, tissue and coagulation factors make up the complex pathophysiology of SCD(3) and, therefore, people with SCD tend to be more severely affected by SCD infection. COVID-19 when compared to the general population, due to their chronic condition and other associated vulnerabilities (4) . Furthermore, the fact that SCD affects the immune system and increases the chances of developing respiratory infections placed children and adolescents with SCD in the "high risk" category for COVID-19.…”

Transições vivenciadas por mães de crianças/adolescentes com doença falciforme no contexto da pandemia da COVID-19

“…A anemia hemolítica, crises vaso oclusivas, lesão endotelial de diversos órgãos, liberação de citocinas e quimiocinas inflamatórias, fatores teciduais e de coagulação compõe a complexa fisiopatologia da DF (3) e diante disso pessoas com DF tendem a ser mais gravemente afetadas por infecção da COVID-19 quando comparadas à população em geral, devido à sua condição crônica e a outras situações de vulnerabilidades associadas (4) . Ademais, o fato de a DF afetar o sistema imunológico e ampliar as chances de desenvolver infecções respiratórias colocou crianças e adolescentes com DF na categoria de "alto risco" para COVID-19.…”