Characterization of the occupations of riverside community residents in the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Occupations are everyday actions that organize and structure people's lives. It is observed the growth of studies that describe the occupations of several publics in different contexts. These investigations have assisted in the development of concepts, theories and proposals for intervention in occupational therapy. However, these studies are still incipient, especially in relation to the populations in the Latin American context. This research aimed to characterize the occupations of men and women living in a riverine community in the Amazon region. This is a quantitative study with a descriptive approach. A time-use questionnaire was used to identify some of the most common occupations of the riverside lifestyle, the variations related to the periods of the day and to the places where they occur. It made possible to understand that occupations are structural factors of the daily life of this population, that interact with the environment and values of the community and that express a peculiar way of life. Such understandings are particularly useful for professionals at different levels of care, and can be used to guide interventions in occupational therapy in the health, social field, education, among others.