Qualidade de vida numa comunidade quilombola urbana

Abstract

Quilombola communities have their own characteristics, with ethnic and racial diversity, strong networks of sociocultural relationships, and a history marked by resistance and preservation of their identity. According to the World Health Organization, quality of life is defined as an individual's perception of his/her position in life, considering the cultural context and value systems in which he/her is inserted. The objective of this study is to assess the quality of life of quilombolas in its physical, psychological, social, and environmental dimensions and to identify associated factors that impact their lives and health. This is a cross-sectional, census, and descriptive study with 318 residents of Quilombo Quingoma, in Lauro de Freitas-Bahia. Data collection was carried out from June to August 2024, in interviews conducted in the quilombo, through the application of a questionnaire with sociodemographic, housing, occupational, and health data and the WHOQOL-Bref to assess quality of life. The instrument performed well, when evaluated by the composite reliability index. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS statistical program, using multiple linear regression to identify factors associated with variations in the four WHOQOL-Bref quality of life domains. Multivariate analyses revealed that, in the Physical component, having formal or informal employment was positively and negatively associated with evangelical religion and being ill (reporting high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, respiratory disease, heart disease, sickle cell anemia, or chronic pain); the Psychological domain was positively associated with monthly income and negatively associated with the number of people in the household, risk of dust, and being ill; the Social domain was positively associated with age and formal employment; and the Environmental domain was positively associated with age, monthly income, lack of sewage, and negatively associated with the number of people in the household, risk of dust, fear of losing land/home, and being ill. Quality of life in quilombola populations is a topic that demands greater appropriation and dissemination by the scientific community and society. The scarcity of studies on quilombolas hinders more comprehensive analyses of the challenges and realities faced by these vulnerable communities