Condições de vida, saúde mental, cognitiva e religiosidade de pessoas idosas quilombolas

Abstract

Introduction: Studies demonstrate the association between the quality of aging and socioeconomic conditions, lifestyle, and healthcare. Mental and cognitive health are important for the quality of aging, especially in quilombola populations. However, analyses of this relationship are still scarce in this population. In the context of health and illness, religiosity and spirituality appear to be important aspects capable of contributing to better indicators and protective factors. Objective: To analyze the mental health, cognition, dimensions of religiosity, and experiences of spirituality of elderly quilombola people residing in a municipality in the Baixada Maranhense region. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study and a population-based household survey, conducted with 223 elderly people (60 years or older) in eleven quilombola communities in Bequimão. Individual interviews were conducted in households to assess sociodemographic conditions, health, cognition, depression, functionality, and religiosity/spirituality, using the following instruments: Sociodemographic Questionnaire,

Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE- R), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS 15), Duke Religiosity Index (DUREL-P), Daily

Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES), Pfeffer Functional Activity Questionnaire (PFAQ), and Hachinski Ischaemic Scale. Data was collected using RStudio® software (version 2024.4.2.764), employing descriptive statistics and prevalence calculations, with results presented in tables and graphs. The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University Hospital under opinion number 2.476.48. Results: Based on the analysis of mental health, cognition, religiosity, and spirituality among elderly quilombola people, it was identified that 19.4% presented mild cognitive impairment and 20.2% exhibited depressive symptoms, such as apathy and isolation. Despite precarious living conditions, the studied population showed low cognitive decline compared to other groups with low levels of education, and religiosity and spirituality were observed as positive practices in coping with daily difficulties. Conclusion: Sanitary, socioeconomic, and social assistance infrastructure characteristics are determinants of the precarious conditions in which elderly quilombola people live. It was possible to observe low cognitive decline, as well as a smaller number of elderly people with mild cognitive impairment, when compared to healthy groups with low levels of education. The prevalence of depression and a high rate of participation and expression in religious and spiritual experiences were identified.