CREATING KNOWLEDGE AND ACTIONS BY PROMOTING HEALTH IN AGED WOMEN WITH OSTEOPOROSIS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze how Paulo Freire's theoretical framework can contribute to understanding the awareness-raising process about aging, by promoting health and self-care in aged women with osteoporosis and considering the socioeconomic and environmental factors involved in this process. Method: a qualitative and descriptive study conducted by means of secondary analysis of data from a primary study carried out between December 2019 and February 2020, which included 25 aged women treated in a Rheumatology health unit of a university hospital. This analysis intended to return to a corpus of previously collected data, aiming to reexamine them from a new investigative angle, Paulo Freire's theoretical perspective, which served as theoretical-methodological framework. Results: the findings of this research enabled an approach to the reality of aged women with osteoporosis through a critical reflection on the practice and sensitization inherent to the human essence. This allowed revealing aspects that were hidden and driving the creation of concrete action proposals in relation to the participants' reality. Conclusion: nurses' crucial role in the assistance provided to aged women with osteoporosis was verified, as well as the efficiency of a dialogical approach that values their self-care choices and skills. As a dynamic process that involves actions, reflections and new actions, the health perception strengthens Freire's perspective in the Nursing practice as a strategy to develop diverse knowledge and actions along with aged women with osteoporosis, aiming to promote emancipating assistance based on the care ethics.