Mental health care notions and practices from the perspective of peasant women

Abstract

Objective: to know the mental health care notions and practices from the perspective of peasant women. Method: exploratory-descriptive study, with a qualitative approach. The study had the participation of 18 peasant women. Data were produced through a semi-structured interview, from March to April 2017, and subjected to thematic analysis. Results: the mental health notions are still influenced by the religiosity and the conception of madness of the classical age. Socialization, participation in groups, leisure and religiosity stood out as care practices. Conflicting family relationships, idleness, nervousness, suffering, stress, work overload and economic difficulties were factors producing mental illness. Conclusion: the mental health care of the peasants should be considered by public policies, thus requiring actions from health professionals in order to promote this care.

Keywords

• saúde da mulher
• saúde mental
• saúde da população rural
• população rural
• enfermagem.