This qualitative study was conducted with 17 individuals with sickle cell diseaseaged between 13 and 24 years in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil in March and April 2017. An interview investigated the barriers to self-care practice and the feelings associated with sickle cell disease. Data were transcribed and analyzed according to Bardin's perspective using the following
steps:
(1) pre-analysis, (2) exploration of the material, and (3) treatment of the results (inference and interpretation).
Results:
Five thematic categories emerged (1) feelingsanger, sadness, and fear; (2) bullying and stigmatization challenges regarding walking, speaking, or behaving, as well as patient labels; (3) cognitive factors doubts related to medication, hydration, heredity and maternity; (4) medication compliancefear of the side effects suffered and anger triggered by the obligation to use the medication; (5) family issues complaints of not earning the mothers' trust to live independently.