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ABSTRACT Objective: to describe the experiences of immigrants and their families related to integration in Brazil. Method: this is a descriptive study, with a qualitative approach, carried out in a municipality in southern Brazil. The informants were 13 immigrants who had lived in Brazil between six months and five years and who were able to communicate in Portuguese, English or Spanish. Data were collected between May and November 2021, through semi-structured interviews, audio-recorded and subjected to thematic content analysis. Results: the 13 participants were aged between 27 and 65 years (mean age 36 years), nine of whom were women, seven from Venezuela and the others from countries in South, Central America and Africa. Three categories emerged which show the adversities experienced, especially in relation to jobs (low wages, labor exploitation, non-recognition of academic titles), communication difficulties and distance from family. On the other hand, they also show satisfaction with public safety, health care and the possibility of personal and professional development. To maintain family unity and their origins, people in an immigration situation financially help members who could not migrate, make typical foods and use the native language in the home environment. Conclusion: integration into Brazilian society is permeated by challenges, namely the absence/distance from family of origin and/or constituted, lack of understanding of language, work and financial problems and social support network weakness. However, immigrants seek to maintain an adequate family functioning based on the support of institutions and the maintenance of the culture of origin.
RESUMEN Objetivo: describir las experiencias de los inmigrantes y sus familias con respecto a la integración en Brasil. Método: estudio descriptivo, con abordaje cualitativo, realizado en un municipio del sur de Brasil. Los informantes fueron 13 inmigrantes que habían vivido en Brasil entre seis meses y cinco años y que podían comunicarse en portugués, inglés o español. Los datos fueron recolectados entre mayo y noviembre de 2021, a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas, grabadas en audio y sometidas a análisis de contenido temático. Resultados: los 13 participantes tenían entre 27 y 65 años (edad media 36 años), nueve de los cuales eran mujeres, siete de Venezuela y los demás de países de América del Sur, Central y África. Emergieron tres categorías que muestran las adversidades vividas, especialmente en relación al trabajo (bajos salarios, explotación laboral, no reconocimiento de títulos académicos), dificultades de comunicación y distanciamiento familiar. Por otro lado, también muestran satisfacción con la seguridad pública, la atención de la salud y la posibilidad de desarrollo personal y profesional. Para mantener la unidad familiar y sus orígenes, las personas en situación de inmigración ayudan económicamente a los miembros que no pudieron migrar, elaboran comidas típicas y utilizan la lengua materna en el ámbito familiar. Conclusión: la integración en la sociedad brasileña está permeada por desafíos, a saber, la ausencia/lejanía de la familia de origen y/o constituida, la falta de comprensión del idioma, los problemas laborales y financieros y la debilidad en la red de apoyo social. Sin embargo, los inmigrantes buscan mantener un adecuado funcionamiento familiar basado en el apoyo de las instituciones y el mantenimiento de la cultura de origen.
RESUMO Objetivo: descrever as vivências de imigrantes e suas famílias relativas à integração no Brasil. Método: estudo descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa, realizado em município no Sul do Brasil. Os informantes foram 13 imigrantes que residiam no Brasil entre seis meses e cinco anos e que conseguiam se comunicar em português, inglês ou espanhol. Os dados foram coletados entre maio e novembro de 2021, mediante entrevistas semiestruturadas, audiogravadas e submetidas à análise de conteúdo temática. Resultados: os 13 participantes tinham idades entre 27 e 65 anos (média de 36 anos), sendo nove mulheres, sete provenientes da Venezuela e os demais de países da América do Sul, Central e África. Emergiram três categorias as quais mostram as adversidades experienciadas, sobretudo em relação a empregos (baixos salários, exploração de mão de obra, não reconhecimento de títulos acadêmicos), dificuldades de comunicação e distância da família. Por outro lado, mostram também a satisfação com a segurança pública, assistência à saúde e possibilidade de desenvolvimento pessoal e profissional. Para manter a união familiar e suas origens, as pessoas em situação de imigração ajudam financeiramente os membros que não puderam migrar, fazem comidas típicas e utilizam o idioma nativo no ambiente domiciliar. Conclusão: a integração à sociedade brasileira é permeada por desafios, nomeadamente pela ausência/distância da família de origem e/ou constituída, não compreensão do idioma, problemas laborais e financeiros e fragilidade na rede de apoio social. Contudo, os imigrantes buscam manter um adequado funcionamento familiar a partir do apoio de instituições e da manutenção da cultura de origem.
ABSTRACT
Abstract INTRODUCTION: The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has greatly challenged public health worldwide. A growing number of studies have reported gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. We performed a systematic review of GI symptoms associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as well as of the serum levels of biomarkers related to liver function and lesion in SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. METHODS: We surveyed relevant articles published in English, Spanish, and Portuguese up to July, 2020 in the PubMed, MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS, and BVS databases. Moreover, we surveyed potentially important articles in journals such as the NEJM, JAMA, BMJ, Gut, and AJG. RESULTS: This systematic review included 43 studies, including 18,246 patients. Diarrhea was the most common GI symptom, affecting 11.5% of the patients, followed by nausea and vomiting (6.3%) and abdominal pain (2.3%). With regard to clinical severity, 17.5% of the patients were classified as severely ill, whereas 9.8% of them were considered to have a non-severe disease. Some studies showed increased aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase levels in a portion of the 209 analyzed patients and two studies. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that digestive symptoms are common in COVID-19 patients. In addition, alterations in cytolysis biomarkers could also be observed in a lesser proportion, calling attention to the possibility of hepatic involvement in SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals.