Health conditions and relationship with health services from Quilombola people’s perspective

Abstract

Abstract Objectives to analyze the perceptions of the Quilombola population of Caldeirão about their health conditions and to identify the possibilities and difficulties in the relationship with the health services in their territory. Method a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study, carried out in the Quilombola Community from Caldeirão, Marajó Island, Pará, Brazil. Data production took place from March to April 2021, through individual semi-structured interviews with 30 residents, and thematic content analysis was applied. Results two empirical categories originated, revealing the Quilombola population’s perceptions about their health conditions and the health-disease process, the relationship that the community had with the local health services and the strengths and weaknesses inherent to this relationship. Conclusions and implications for practice Quilombola people’s perceptions showed a predominance of biomedical knowledge and a hospital-centric view, in addition to their weakened relationship with local health services. It is expected that the research results will encourage dialogue about these populations, considering that they represent a traditional group in a vulnerable situation. It is necessary to carry out further research to investigate/strengthen the Family Health Strategy role and unveil/problematize traditional knowledge in the face of biomedical knowledge hegemony in the scenario of Quilombola populations.