Resumo:
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
