Corpo idoso e sertão: uma análise da percepção de corpo, de cuidados e da saúde

Abstract

Aging is a process of big complexity and every day attracts research on a worldwide scale. In this context, the present study is dedicated to problematizing the elderly of the Paraíba hinterland and the relationship with their body. The thesis arises that the sociocultural context in which the individual is inserted entails specific characteristics in taking care of the body and the health. Thus, this work aims to analyse the ways of the elderly perceive and take care of their bodies and their health through Physical Education. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach. The participating subjects were 30 elderly men and women from the municipality of Sousa, in the Paraíba hinterland, randomly approached at their homes by the research team. The study excluded individuals who did not have time to apply the instrument, those who did not have autonomy in the activities of personal care and hygiene, and who refused to sign the Informed Consent Form. The first group of elderly interviewed was made up of residents of a settlement community, the second by residents of residential neighbourhoods and the third by residents of a housing estate, all from the city of Sousa. The data collection was realized through a semi-structured interview and based on their transcription, the content analysis technique was applied. This analysis resulted in three articles on the dimensions of the instrument, about: the elderly's body perception; body care for the elderly in the society of the young body; and defining the health perception of the elderly. The study subjects were elderly aged between 61 and 79 years old, with a greater predominance of married people, with only one divorced individual and three widowers. Regarding education, the highest occurrence was elementary school, followed by the expressive number of illiterates. In the three dimensions analyzed, the data point to a strong presence of biomedical discourse and the cult of the young body as an ideal of beauty. In bodily perceptions, the “other's” view emerges as a prominent element and capable of propagating the ideals of eternal youth unattainable by most elderly people, as a way to heal or prevent diseases. Regarding body care, those related to personal hygiene and the diets performed, also associated with pathologies and their prevention, stand out. The concept of health for the elderly is very limited to the absence of disease as a health indicator. From these data, we seek, therefore, to promote the health of the elderly backlander in a larger perspective, as well as provide them with a better relationship with their own body and the taking care.