Pressure ulcers: representation of life and death for wheelchair users

Pressure ulcers can significantly affect the quality of life and social inclusion of wheelchair users, in addition to delaying the rehabilitation process and compromising the health-disease process. The aim of this study is to analyze the representation of pressure ulcers in the perception of life/death for wheelchair users. The methodological design of this research is applied, descriptive and participatory, with analysis and discussion of data under a qualitative paradigm. Seven collaborators who are wheelchair users of the Association of Spinal Cord Injuries in Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil (LEME) participated in the interviews. Data analysis was performed by using data categorization and triangulation. The results show the negative impact pressure ulcers have on users’ health and social inclusion. The fear of appearance of pressure ulcers and the associated possibility of death, overlaps other situations that may result from the condition of being a wheelchair user. Users are aware that injuries associated with a bacterial infection can lead to death. The need for constant care and dressings, in addition to the body’s own odor, become important limitations in social life. The importance of the prevention of pressure ulcers is emphasized as a way to promote social inclusion and physical and emotional well-being of users

Negligence and invisibility: Perceptions on obesity in the school context

The aim of this study was to investigate how it manifests obesity in the school context. The study included 21 obese and 10 directors. Research instruments used were semi-structured interviews with adolescents and questionnaire with the directors. The results show that there is little dialogue between the families of obese and school; the directors are unaware of the treatments performed for obesity by his students, directors attribute the responsibility of feeding the nutritionist at the Department of Education; bullying was presented as a factor in the school context as well, obesity is not regarded as a disease or as a factor of social exclusion, the educators also disclaim any responsibility or interference in this matter. Finally, it appears that obese adolescents are neglected in the context studied

The meaning of basketball practice for people in wheelchairs.

Esta pesquisa descritiva, com análise de dados sob o paradigma qualitativo teve por objetivo investigar a significação da prática do basquete para cadeirantes. Participaram desse estudo quatro praticantes de basquetebol em cadeira de rodas. A coleta das informações foi realizada por meio de entrevista semi-estruturada, que utiliza para a análise dos resultados a técnica de análise de conteúdo temática. A análise permitiu a estruturação de quatro categorias. Como resultados pode-se inferir que o basquete acaba sendo um complemento do processo de reabilitação, como melhora do condicionamento físico motor. Em suma, o basquete em cadeiras de rodas parece ter um papel central na vida das pessoas.This research is characterized as descriptive, with data analysis under the qualitative paradigm. The objective was focused on investigating the significance of basketball practice for wheelchair users. Four people withphysical disabilities participated of the group, and all of them were practitioners of wheelchair basketball. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews, for the analysis of the results the technique of thematic content analysis was used. The analysis allowed the structuring of four categories. In short, basketball in wheelchairs seems to have a central role in people’s lives

Violence against elderly: An integrative review

This study aimed to conduct an integrative review of scientific knowledge produced in Brazil between 2013 and 2017, emphasizing the descriptors violence and the elderly. The scientific productions were selected in the SciELO database with crossings of the descriptors used in the title of the articles, available online in full form, with the period limitation from 2014 to 2018, in Brazil collections and Portuguese language. The search in the database generated 26 articles, and ten of them were chosen for the final analysis after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The present integrative review showed that the central violence suffered was psychological, along with physical violence, with the elderly being the main victims. The findings related to violence against the elderly and associated factors reveal a scenario that is most prevalent in the home, an environment where the belief of a welcoming, loving and protective nature of external violence is deposited. In contrast, the intrafamilial relationship emerges concomitantly as a generator of conflicts that expose the elderly to the risk of violence of a character veiled, caused by the constituents themselves, which requires high vigilance and notification. Violence is a social challenge. We must prioritize research, work, and discuss the abuse of older people in political circles and understand the best way to prevent and help implement the necessary measures