Memórias alimentares de funcionários públicos envelhecidos participantes do ELSA-Brasil com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 e outras doenças crônicas não transmissíveis

Abstract

Food memory is formed throughout the different stages of life, consisting of places, people and events, expressed through eating practices, being inscribed in a temporality and a locus of reflexivity. In this sense, the objective of this research aims to understand the meanings of memories and eating practices of aging public servants with chronic non-communicable diseases, for health care practices. The methodology was a qualitative study, carried out with 20 people of both sexes, aged 45 or over, registered with ELSA Brasil - UFBA with type 2 diabetes and other chronic non-communicable diseases. Interviews were carried out using a semi-structured script, with the aim of producing reports on life stories focused on memories and eating practices. All interviews were recorded and transcribed in full. A thematic analysis of the transcriptions was carried out, based on empirical categories identified in the reports. Finally, groupings of typical eating trajectories were constructed that allowed comparative analyzes of the relationships between eating memories and changes in eating practices recommended by health professionals for care related to the chronic condition. As a result, the empirical categories were distributed into two thematic axes: 1. the elements of memories and eating practices constructed from life stories; 2. dietary changes, illness and their relationships. Changes in eating practices related to chronic illness involve symbolic, social and cultural dimensions inscribed in the subjects' memories and eating trajectories - something intensified among older people. In the health-illness-care process, the subject (re)constructs their eating practices based on their life trajectory and memories over time. Considering this multidimensional nature of nutrition, we assert that comprehensive care is not possible without considering the subjects' life stories and eating memories.