Self-attention in rural health: perspectives of care by female farmers

Abstract

Objective: To know the practices of self-care in health of a group of rural women in the southern region of Rio Grande do Sul.Method: exploratory qualitative research based on interpretive anthropology and self-care referential. The study participants were seven women from four families living in the rural area ofPelotas, selected through participation in a group of women, which occurs in the community, the data were collected between May and July of 2013, in seven meetings held on-site, using the recorded semi-structured interview, participant observation as the data collection method.Results: qualitative analysis emerged units of meaning that expressed self-care practices manifested in: family action; food; religious practices; participation in social groups and use of medicinal plants.Conclusion: This study allowed us to understand the practices of self-care that are part of the care in the studied reality, pointing out the need of nurses to look at this context, considering several aspects, existing relationships of affection and mutual care, type of food and production family, the importance of sharing food and the influence of religious practice.