Self-perceived health among 'quilombolas' in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Over a century has passed since slavery was abolished in Brazil, yet quilombola communities remain socially vulnerable, especially when it comes to health. The goal of this study was to understand self-perceived health (SPH) in quilombola communities in Northern Minas Gerais, and the factors associated with their negative -perceived their own health. A household survey of a representative sample of quilombola communities in the study region. Validated tools were used to gather data about SPH, socioeconomic conditions, demographics, lifestyle and self-referred morbidity. Following a bivariate analysis, we proceeded to conduct a hierarchical logistics regression analysis. The prevalence of negative SPH was 46.0%. The following variables were statistically associated with negative SPH: age and years of schooling as distal variables, and high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, depression and back problems as proximal variables. SPH is associated with demographic and socioeconomic dimensions, and in particular with self-referred morbidity. The concept of health among the quilombola communities included in this study seems to be intimately linked to the absence of disease, especially chronic disease.

Autopercepção de saúde em quilombolas do norte de Minas Gerais, Brasil / Self-perceived health among ‘quilombolas’ in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil

ResumoComunidades quilombolas vivenciam situação de vulnerabilidade social, mesmo mais de um século da abolição da escravatura, principalmente em relação aos cuidados de saúde. O estudo objetivou conhecer a autopercepção da saúde (APS) em comunidades quilombolas do Norte de Minas Gerais e os fatores associados à percepção negativa da própria saúde. Inquérito domiciliar com amostra representativa das comunidades quilombolas da região estudada. Foram utilizados instrumentos validados para coleta de dados sobre a APS, condições socioeconômicas e demográficas, hábitos de vida e morbidade autorreferida. Após análise bivariada, conduziu-se análise de regressão logística hierarquizada. A prevalência de APS negativa foi de 46,0%. As seguintes variáveis mostraram-se estatisticamente associados a uma APS negativa: idade e escolaridade, como variáveis distais e hipertensão, diabetes, artrite, depressão e problemas de coluna como variáveis proximais. A APS mostrou-se associada a dimensões demográficas, socioeconômicas e, especialmente, à morbidade autorreferida. O conceito de saúde para as comunidades quilombolas estudadas parece estar intimamente ligado à ausência de doenças, especialmente as crônicas.

AbstractOver a century has passed since slavery was abolished in Brazil, yet quilombola communities remain socially vulnerable, especially when it comes to health. The goal of this study was to understand self-perceived health (SPH) in quilombola communities in Northern Minas Gerais, and the factors associated with their negative -perceived their own health. A household survey of a representative sample of quilombola communities in the study region. Validated tools were used to gather data about SPH, socioeconomic conditions, demographics, lifestyle and self-referred morbidity. Following a bivariate analysis, we proceeded to conduct a hierarchical logistics regression analysis. The prevalence of negative SPH was 46.0%. The following variables were statistically associated with negative SPH: age and years of schooling as distal variables, and high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, depression and back problems as proximal variables. SPH is associated with demographic and socioeconomic dimensions, and in particular with self-referred morbidity. The concept of health among the quilombola communities included in this study seems to be intimately linked to the absence of disease, especially chronic disease.