The representation of sexuality by the elderly women and education for health

Abstract

doi: 10.5216/ree.v12i4.8830

This study focused on the sexuality of older people, aimed to develop and assess strategies for health education based on critical pedagogy and social, from a social representation of sexuality by women with systemic hypertension participating in a group against a health center in the northwest of Paraná State, Brazil. This was an action research conducted in the second half of 2009. The target population was six hypertensive participants of a group of a health center's weekly meeting located in the northwest of Paraná State/ Brazil, corresponding to all who met the criteria: be 60 years old or more, be a carrier of hypertension, frequent group. Used the focus group, the research group and semi-structured interview. Data were analyzed using content analysis of Bardin. We demonstrated that it is difficult to understand and explain the sexuality of these women, however, represent how reductionism and sex in veiled form. The health education conducted has led to the dialog and discussion of sexuality. Thus, we believe that the largest value of this research was not manifested in radical change and informed behavior, but in the realization of an educational activity in context.

Descriptors: Sexuality; Aging; Women; Health education.