Funcionalidade e rede de apoio social da pessoa idosa ribeirinha do município de Parintins, Amazonas

Abstract

Introduction: This investigation aims to study the functionality and social support network of elderly riverside people. The interest in studying the topic arose due to scientific concern and the researcher's experience in rural communities, observing the way of life, difficult access to healthcare, the lack of qualified human resources for healthcare professionals, adversities in relation to logistics and geographic territory faced by these traditional people, especially elderly people. Objective: Investigate the functionality and social support network of elderly people in riverside communities in the municipality of Parintins in the State of Amazonas. Method: this is a descriptive, cross-sectional study with a quantitative-qualitative approach. The probabilistic sample consisted of 222 elderly individuals registered in the Family Health Strategy of five rural communities in the municipality of Parintins, Amazonas. Data collection was conducted at home through the application of a form specifically designed for the research and two validated instruments adapted for the Brazilian version, namely the Katz Index and the Lawton Scale for the quantitative approach. For the qualitative approach, interviews were conducted with dependent elderly individuals using a guide containing information about informal and formal social support networks. The analyses followed the following logic: Data were organized in a Microsoft Excel 2019 spreadsheet and later analyzed based on descriptive and inferential statistics for the quantitative approach using results generated in the SPSS program, and the association analysis was carried out through the Chi-square test, with a significance a level 5%. For the qualitative approach, the data were analyzed using Bardin’s content analysis, material exploration, and results treatment. Results: Of the 222 study participants, 50.9% were female, and the most predominant age group was 60 to 69 years old. Regarding education level, most participants had low levels of education, with 71.2% not having completed primary school. It was observed that 86.5% of the elderly individuals were retired. Concerning health conditions, diseases of the circulatory system were the most prevalent among participants (58.1%). Regarding medication use, the most commonly consumed drug was losartan (32%). The functional assessment of elderly individuals, based on activities of daily living (ADLs), revealed that the majority were independent in ADLs (91.9%), however, regarding IADLs, dependence was indicated (73%), and regarding AAVDs, participation was satisfactory; only the productive domain was the most impaired. From the analyzed data, a statistical association was found between age, chronic disease, medication use with ADLs and IADLs, hospitalization with ADLs, number of medications with ADLs, and the association of IADL items with ADLs. The results of the qualitative approach were analyzed using the Content Analysis technique proposed by Bardin, resulting in 3 categories: Conception of social support network, Informal social support network, and Formal social support network. Final considerations: The results highlight the complex reality of elderly people living along riverbanks, marked by socioeconomic limitations, a prevalence of chronic diseases, and functional dependence in some activities. Therefore, the importance of public policies that promote active aging, considering the specific needs of the riverside population, is emphasized.