Saúde mental de mulheres quilombolas segundo categorias de (in)segurança alimentar: estudo de base populacional no estado de Alagoas

Abstract

The Remnant Quilombola Communities (RQCs) represent not only a historical heritage of resistance but also places of significant social and economic vulnerability. This historical marginalization perpetuates cycles of poverty and exclusion, manifested in conditions such as Food Insecurity (FI), a serious public health issue in Brazil. FI, strongly associated with poverty and social inequalities, particularly affects women due to their central role in family food provision, making it plausible to consider it a risk factor for the onset of Common Mental Disorders (CMDs), which include disorders like depression and anxiety, often accompanied by somatoform symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the association between FI and CMDs among quilombola women in the state of Alagoas. To achieve this objective, the results were organized and presented in an original article derived from a cross-sectional household survey. Women's classification regarding the occurrence of CMDs was performed using the SelfReporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), and FI status was assessed using the Brazilian Scale of Food Insecurity (EBIA). The article, titled "Mental Health of Quilombola Women in the State of Alagoas according to (in)security food condition," investigated the association between Food Insecurity (FI) and CMDs in the quilombola population of the state. It involved a sample of 1,801 women. The overall prevalence of CMDs in this study was 40.7%, and the prevalence of FI was 72.3%. Considering situations of Food Security (FS), mild FI, moderate FI, and severe FI, the prevalences of CMDs were 18.6%, 36.7%, 51.2%, and 73.1%, respectively. After Poisson regression analysis with robust variance adjustment, according to a hierarchical theoretical model, the prevalence of CMDs was independently associated with moderate + severe FI (PR = 1.85; 95% CI 1.65 – 2.07). Other factors associated with CMDs were: being over 35 years old (PR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.13 – 1.45), having up to eight years of education (PR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.05 – 1.44), tobacco use (PR = 1.32; 95% CI 1.12 – 1.56), alcohol consumption (PR = 1.37; 95% CI 1.16 – 1.62), and experiencing health problems in the 15 days prior to the interview (PR = 1.47; 95% CI 1.32 – 1.63). The results of this study highlight a high prevalence of CMDs among quilombola women in Alagoas, reflecting a situation of high social vulnerability. This scenario underscores the urgent need to implement public policies that address the specific needs of this population. In a state characterized by having the worst socioeconomic indicators in Brazil compared to others, quilombola women face particularly severe and unacceptable inequities. It is crucial, therefore, to implement specific and effective actions to promote the quality of life and mental health of these peoples.