Occupational roles of individuals with sickle cell anemia

Abstract

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) can affect the performance of occupational roles of individuals due to painful vaso-occlusive crisis and frequent hospitalizations. This study aimed to verify which occupational roles are less performed nowadays and why; and to identify the degree of importance of these roles for the life of people with sickle cell anemia, attended in the Blood Bank of Uberaba/Hemominas Foundation. Thirty (30) individuals with sickle cell anemia participated in this research. Data were collected through the form of the instrument Role Checklist and, focus group methodology was used to better understand these data,. The results showed that the least performed roles were: religious, student, worker, volunteer, and participant in organizations. As for the most important roles, they were: student, caregiver, worker, volunteer, and hobbyist/amateur. We concluded that the occupations of the individuals interviewed are affected due to the clinical conditions imposed by sickle cell anemia, such as the roles of student and worker, since most of them were young adults.