Balking blood pressure "control" by older persons of Bambuí, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

An Ethno-Epidemiological Inquiry

Bibliographic Data

ID5176604
AuthorsMarilyn Nations (Universidade de Fortaleza), Marilyn Kay Nations (Universidade de Fortaleza), Josélia Oliveira Araújo Firmo (0000-0002-3264-9627, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Maria Fernanda Furtado Lima-Costa (0000-0002-3474-2980, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Maria Fernanda Lima-Costa (0000-0002-1077-1381, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brasil), Elizabeth Uchoa (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brasil)
Year2011
Volume27
Issuesuppl 3
Pagess378-s389
Publication date2011-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCadernos de Saude Publica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0102-311X • E-ISSN: 1678-4464
PublisherFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/s0102-311x2011001500008
PMID21952859
OpenAlexW2047901851
SCIELO_PIDS0102-311X2011001500008
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited30

This ethno-epidemiological inquiry aims to comprehend hypertension-related experiences in the elderly population of Bambuí, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It combines ethnographic descriptions with statistical data. The subjective significance of factors associated with adequate arterial pressure control is explored. A baseline cohort of 26 people with hypertension, randomly selected from a total number of 1,494 residents over the age of 60, was interviewed utilizing signs, meanings and actions methodology. Multivariate analysis shows an association (p < 0.001) between female gender and monthly household income and treatment of hypertension and adequate blood pressure control. The number of doctor visits is associated with treatment but not with adequate blood pressure control. Conflicting cultural construction of "blood pressure problems" contributes to "non-adherence" to treatment. There is a fine line between blood pressure "control" and what is perceived as health professionals "controlling" patients' lives. Doctor-prescribed regimes are perceived as "prohibiting life's pleasures" and "controlling" personal liberty and free choice. Giving elderly people a voice regarding their social context can promote autonomy, well-being and happiness in later life

Autonomy · Blood pressure · Cohort · Context (archaeology) · Environmental health · Geography · Happiness · Multivariate analysis · Population · Sociology · Demography · Employment and Welfare Studies · Epidemiology · Health disparities and outcomes · Health, Nursing, Elderly Care · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access