Health-Related Quality of Life among Artisanal Fisherwomen/Shellfish Gatherers: Lower than the General Population

Juliana Dos Santos Müller, Ila Rocha Falcão, Maria Carolina Barreto Moreira Couto, Wendel Da Silva Viana, Ivone Batista Alves, Denise Nunes Viola, Courtney Georgette Woods and Rita Franco Rêgo
Additional contact information
Juliana Dos Santos Müller: Department of Technology in Health and Biology, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Bahia, Salvador 40301-015, Brazil
Ila Rocha Falcão: Post-Graduate Program in Health, Environment, and Work, School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40026-010, Brazil
Maria Carolina Barreto Moreira Couto: Post-Graduate Program in Health, Environment, and Work, School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40026-010, Brazil
Wendel Da Silva Viana: Post-Graduate Program in Health, Environment, and Work, School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40026-010, Brazil
Ivone Batista Alves: Post-Graduate Program in Health, Environment, and Work, School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40026-010, Brazil
Denise Nunes Viola: Departmentof Statistics, Institute of Mathematics, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
Courtney Georgette Woods: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7431, USA
Rita Franco Rêgo: Post-Graduate Program in Health, Environment, and Work, School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40026-010, Brazil

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: Quality of life is an indicator of how well one perceives that he/she is functioning physically and mentally. The aim of this paper is to determine the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of artisanal fisherwomen/shellfish gatherers from the Saubara municipality in Bahia, Brazil in comparison to the general population. A structured questionnaire was administered to a sample of 209 artisanal fisherwomen selected at random. The HRQOL questionnaire, known as the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey version 1 (SF-36v01), was also used, having been translated and verified cross-culturally for the Brazilian population. Sociodemographic, lifestyle and comorbidity information was also collected. Chronic diseases and indicators of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) were self-reported. The study population consisted primarily of individuals between 30 and 45 years of age (78%), of self-classified races black or brown (96.2%), with no more than an elementary school education (77%) and married (64.6%). In all the SF-36v01 dimensions, the values in the sample were lower than in the general population of Brazil, which was used as the reference population. In the “Physical Health” domain (Physical Functioning; Physical Role Limitations; Bodily Pain; General Health Perception) a tendency toward a lower health-related quality of life was observed among those who were older, had a lower education level, and had a prevalence of MSDs, hypertension or arthritis. The interference of health conditions linked to the fisherwomen’s work activities may contribute to lower HRQOL in all analyzed aspects, in comparison to the general population. In light of these findings, public health policies must consider these informal workers who contribute greatly to Brazil’s economy and food system.

Keywords: health-related quality of life (HRQOL); artisanal fisherwomen; SF-36; small-scale fishermen; chronic diseases; musculoskeletal disorders (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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