In fetal complications we can observe preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction due to placental vascular occlusion, fetal distress during labor and delivery, as well as the elevation of the rate of perinatal mortality(3).
The most severe complications occur in women with hemoglobin SS (88%). Other social factors may contribute to the complications of pregnancy in women with SCA, such as problems of malnutrition and parasitic infestations, which can be dangerous to pregnant women and fetuses(3-4).
Because of complications during pregnancy, SCA is considered high risk because the mother and/or fetus are more likely to have impaired health and their lives may be at risk to a greater extent than other women. Failure to perform prenatal checks, alone, can be considered a risk factor for any pregnancy. Although women suffering from SCA are subject to risks during pregnancy, that does not prevent them from desiring pregnancy. On the other hand, health services and health professionals are poorly prepared to care for these women, especially during pregnancy, which can contribute to increase the insecurity and fear they experience in this life stage. The nursing staff who are in contact with women who suffer from chronic illnesses in their daily lives may intervene from the perspective of the appreciation of feelings and of physical, psychological and social conflicts. They should also play the role of facilitators of self knowledge strategies for women in the process of devising mechanisms for accepting their limitations(5).
Prenatal care specialized for high-risk patients should be initiated as early as possible, and systematic monitoring should be offered, preferably by trained teams to reduce complications and properly treat them, thus reducing maternal and perinatal mortality. According to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, women with SCA should undergo prenatal visits with an interval of two weeks until the 26th week, and after that, consultations should be weekly. (6)
It is important that they are met by a multidisciplinary team in order to ensure that all aspects of the pregnancy are covered(6).
The interest for this study arose from the authors’ approach to women suffering from SCA, both in care as in activities in research involving this subject. In this sense, this study started from the following question: How do women suffering from sickle cell anemia perceive pregnancy? And to answer it, we decided to analyze the perception of women suffering from sickle cell anemia regarding pregnancy. With this study we aim to contribute to provide visibility regarding the reproductive experiences of these women and elicit the reflection of health professionals about the care provided to this group.