As representações sociais da pessoa idosa sobre a saúde: As práticas corporais do projeto hiperdia

Abstract

This study explores the social representations of health and bodily practices of elderly people participating in the Hiperdia Project (PH) in the city of Palmeira – PR. The research, with a qualitative and exploratory approach, aims to identify and analyze the social representations of health and bodily practices of elderly people participating in the project's Central Group. We sought to verify whether bodily practices and physical activities are present in the participants' social representations of health. PH accompanies hypertensive and diabetic patients through body practices and physical activities. The specific objectives of the research were: Investigate publications addressing the social representations of elderly people about health, identifying theoretical and methodological contributions; analyze the contributions of bodily practices during leisure time to the health of elderly people; investigate main scientific works using the Focus Group method with an elderly population using the Unified Health System, identifying its main methodological procedures; identify and analyze the social representations of elderly people, participants in the PH central group, from the Municipal Health Department of the city of Palmeira-PR, on health, healthy aging and bodily practices and physical activities. The research was developed using the multipaper model, with distinct articles that, interdependently, allow the understanding of the research problem, each of them meeting a specific objective. It was composed of four studies: an integrative review article, an academic essay, a systematic review article and, for the outcome, empirical research. This study used the free word association technique to explore the social representations of the topic in question, followed by a Focus Group to deepen the analysis. Moscovici's Theory of Social Representations was used as a theoretical basis, with the Iramuteq software assisting in data analysis. It is concluded that the majority of social representation studies analyzed on the health of elderly people use Moscovici's theory as a theoretical basis and a negative view of health among elderly people predominates in these studies. In the following study, bodily practices are seen as an important form of leisure and contribute significantly to the health of the elderly population. However, expanding access to effective services of this nature is fundamental, and Primary Health Care appears as a promising opportunity for this. The need for studies that bring together the perceptions and representations of elderly people in this regard is highlighted. In the analysis of the third article, it is concluded that the Focus Group method, when used in groups of elderly people, is relevant if applied with due rigor that the method and the subject/object of study demand. The last text, carried out with elderly people from the Central Group of PH, in Palmeira-PR, revealed that the social representation of health in the participants is that of a physically active individual, autonomous and engaged in activities such as: moving around, taking care of the land , eat well and live happily with your family. These representations are linked to the consensual universe, with beliefs and values strongly linked to the life experiences and memories of the participants. A positive view of aging was also observed. Bodily practices and physical activities are important elements in the social representation of health, just as health also appears in the social representation of bodily practices and physical activities. The subjects' representations can be explained by their participation in PH for more than ten years. This study contrasts with previous research that frequently associated social representations of health among elderly people with illnesses and frailties. The results highlight the importance of considering the conceptions and experiences of the elderly themselves in the construction of public policies and actions that promote healthy and active aging.