Percepção de qualidade de vida de catadores de materiais recicláveis no bairro Malvinas, Campina Grande-PB.

Abstract

Life quality is a subjective term that covers several meanings, transmitting knowledge, experience and individual and collective values. This research aimed to evaluate the perception that collectors of recyclable materials and associated informal hold on quality of life, observing the relationship with the indicators used in Brazil. This study considered the principles of qualitative research, participant type, developed with 15 waste pickers associated with ARENSA- Recyclable Materials Collectors Association of Community Nossa Senhora Aparecida (100%), 20 pickers informal recyclable materials (100%) and 60 participants residents of selective collection in the Malvinas neighborhood (21%) in Campina Grande-PB. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, application of WHOQOL questionnaire - adapted Bref and monitoring of professional practice. The data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The latter using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. The Shapiro-Wilk test to verify the normality of WHOQOL Bref data adapted and the test not to metric of Kruskal Wallis test were applied. The results observed the predominance of females among the members (67%) and residents (78.3%), while the informal prevailed males (55%). The perception that associates and informal collectors of recyclable materials have on quality of life is intrinsically connected to health aspects. Of the indicators were healthy food, money, employment, study, leisure, housing, health and safety. Monitoring of the professional practice of the groups it was found that the infrastructure conditions do not meet the regulatory standards of the Ministry of Labor NR 24/78. Considering questionnaire data, WHOQOL- Abbreviated, statistically significant results were obtained (ƿ <0.05) with respect to twelve variables, among which: the need for medical treatment; safety at work; enough income to their needs; satisfaction with the power and quality of life. It was found that the perception of quality of life of members and informal waste pickers who work in the neighborhood Malvinas, Campina Grande-PB consistent with the proposed indicators in the literature. It is worth mentioning that these indicators do not fully reflect the scenario that professionals are inserted, revealing what they desire to acquire or achieve for quality of life. It is concluded that the waste pickers hold the perception of quality of life consistent with the indicators used in Brazil, but the poor working conditions that are submitted do not allow the use of adequate quality of life.