Qualidade de vida, estomias intestinais de eliminação e gênero: uma análise das pluralidades vividas

Abstract

Objective: To know the demographic, clinical and quality of life profiles of ostomized patients and to explore, from life histories, the pluralities of being female and of being male in the face of gender issues. Methods: Observational and descriptive study of a quantitative and qualitative approach that analyzed 18 patients with intestinal ostomy for a maximum of 2 years from August 2014 to July 2016 in a public service in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Three instruments were used for data collection: one instrument containing demographic and clinical data, WHOQOL-bref and semi-structured interview. Data were submitted to statistica analysis, Bardin content analysis and processed using NVivo Pro 12 software. Results: It was found that 66.7% (n = 12) were female, 50% (n = 9) were married, 77.8% (n = 14) were away from work activities, 55.5% (n = 10) completed High School, 61,1% (n=11) had income of up to 1 per capita minimum salary, 89% (n = 16) had intestinal cancer as a motivator of the ostomy, 94% (n = 17) were colostomies and 78% (n = 14) were temporary. Overall quality of life as measured by the WHOQOL-bref instrument was 63.2. The most frequent words in the reports were "purse” and “difficult" in the sense of care and transition process, respectively. Most expressed feelings of sadness and emptiness. In exploring life histories, the impact of the ostomy on self-esteem, body image and sexuality, strongly linked to gender issues and the historical construction of the body, are evidenced. Conclusion: Demographic, clinical and quality of life characterization are health determinants that influence the process of living ostomized. The attribution of being an ostomized woman / man is intimately linked to the historical effect of body building as a, the result of discourses and practices.