Life, health and disease among the potiguara people

Abstract

This research aimed at studying the life and health conditions as well as the occurrence of diseases among the potiguara people in the state of Paraíba. It is an exploratory, quantitative study. The sample unit consisted of the nuclear family according to the Health Information System for Indigenous Peoples survey (in Portuguese, SIASI). The 55 potiguara Indians interviewed belonged to the São Francisco indigenous settlement in the municipality of Baía da Traição, Paraíba. Semi-structured interviews with questions related to the issue and the socioeconomic characterization were applied. This study provided information on the study sample social reality, the low socioeconomic status of the population and its relationship with the appearance of diseases, the high levels of STD, and alcoholism, among others. Such results indicate the need for the improvement of the community’s health conditions. In this context a Multidisciplinary Team dedicated to indigenous health care, and particularly the nursing team, should promote integration between the local health system and indigenous knowledge. A cultural approach to the situation might contribute to understand the potiguara Indians culture, their health care and disease control practices, and to intervene more efficiently in the control of infectious and parasitic diseases.