Summary :
This paper presents an account of professional experience in Occupational Therapy, based on an ecological and sustainable perspective, carried out between 2009 and 2012 within the context of primary health care in Fortaleza, Brazil, with families in situations of social and environmental vulnerability. The intervention, developed within the Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família (NASF), integrated the principles of the Unified Health System (SUS), collective health frameworks, and ecological approaches such as permaculture, deep ecology, and environmental education. Four groups were organised according to the target audience – children and adolescents, pregnant women, adult women, and older people – totalling 48 meetings held in Family Health Centres, as well as within community spaces. The activities included discussion circles, therapeutic and productive workshops, recreational activities and sustainable practices such as reusing waste, growing medicinal plants, making natural cosmetics and biodegradable cleaning products, and engaging in immersive experiences in nature. Qualitative analysis of participants’ statements revealed an increased environmental awareness, a stronger community engagement and connections with the environment, a reduction in health problems – such as dengue fever and skin conditions – as well as improvements in psychosocial well-being and household finances. The results demonstrate that occupational therapy, guided by a systemic and ecological approach, promotes more sustainable health practices and contributes significantly to improving quality of life, particularly in vulnerable communities.
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Article rédigé par :
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Nuria Sutter de Oliveira
Ergothérapeute DE
Ergothérapeute indépendante, spécialiste
en santé mentale
Fonctionnaire municipale de la ville
de Jijoca de Jericoacoara, Ceará, Brésil
nuriasutter@gmail.com
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Clarissa Dantas de Carvalho
Ergothérapeute DE
Maîtresse en santé collective
Fonctionnaire municipale de la Ville
de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brésil
clarissa.dantas@aluno.uece.br