Prevalência da hipertensão arterial sistêmica e seus determinantes bioantropológicos em populações quilombolas da Amazônia

Abstract

This study investigates the prevalence of arterial hypertension (HAS) in rural, afrodescendant/Quilombola populations of the Brazilian Amazon. Data were collected in individuals 18 years of age or older of three Quilombola communities: África/ Laranjituba (Abaetetuba), Santo Antônio (Concórdia do Pará) and Mangueiras (Salvaterra, Marajó Island). The Brazilian Ministry of Health recommendations were used to classify the levels of hypertension. One hundred and forty two women and 122 men were evaluated, 81.55% are between the ages of 18 and 59 years, 15.47% between 60 and 79 years and 2.98% with 80 or more years. Among men and women the prevalence of HAS is 22.11% and 30.72% respectively. More women than men have HAS stage II and there is correlation between age and HAS in the population. The prevalence of HAS in these Quilombolas is more than the double of that found in the overall Brazilian population, but lower than that observed in Quilombos from Vale do Ribeira, Southeastern Brazil. In relation to the nutritional situation, 34.96% of the population is overweight (23.43% pre-obesity and 11.43% obesity), and, more women are overweight (20.90%) than men (1.97%). In Santo Antônio there were no obese men, 3.80% of the women were obese and 19.30 overweight. In Mangueiras there was the highest number of obese men (13%) followed by women (28.90%), similar to África/ Laranjituba (30.0%). 34.63% of the women presented central obesity, but only 5.1% of the men. Biological factors such as excess weight, and socio-ecologic situations such as feeling of racial discrimination, low socioeconomic status, westernization of eating habits, use of alcohol (50,85%), smoking (24.78%), and lack of access to health services and health information present among the Quilombola have been related to high prevalence of HAS in rural and afrodescendant groups, reinforcing the need for a holistic approach to the full understanding of the ontogeny of HAS among these populations, aiming at the planning and development of public policies adequate to their particular needs.