Phenomenological considerations regarding the self-perception of children/adolescents living with siblings with disabilities

Abstract

The scope of this article was to understand the self-perception of children/adolescents who live with siblings with disabilities. It involved qualitative research, with a hermeneutic-phe-nomenological approach, with 20 children and adolescents who live with a disabled sibling from a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul/ Brazil. Phenomenological interviews, field diaries and hermeneutic interpretations were used. There were gaps in care, need for attention and understanding on the part of the family, due to the attention given to the disabled sibling. Also, the fear and anguish of the death of the grandparents, the death of the disabled sibling, the nostalgia of the grandparents after their death. It was shown that these children/adolescents live together and question the birth and existence of the sibling. By shining a light on the child/adolescent’s life expe-rience, gaps and weaknesses in the relationship with parents, in health care, in situations of vulnerabilities experienced by the child/adolescent and family were revealed. Thus, attention needs to be devoted to this population, considering that they live with siblings with disabilities, and have several vulnerabilities that need to be discussed, aiming at developing inclusive and efficient care strategies.