KNOWLEDGE IN DEMENTIA

EXPLORATORY STUDY WITH RESIDENTS OF SANTOS/BRAZIL

Abstract

Dementia is a public health problem that compromises functionality and gradually leads to dependence on a caregiver as it progresses, in addition to being fraught with stigmas that negatively affect the lives of the person affected and their family. Providing dementia-friendly initiatives depends on prior knowledge about what people with and without dementia, groups and populations understand about the condition and the needs for a better quality of life. 

Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire published on social media composed of the following sections: Free and Informed Consent Form (TCLE), socioeconomic profile, questions about dementia and the dementia-friendly community. The data were tabulated in an Excel spreadsheet and statistically analyzed. Results: 293 people participated in the survey, Of these, 71.1% knew a person with dementia, 91.3% believed that people with dementia suffer prejudice in society and 82.3% had never heard about the Dementia Friendly Community. Discussion: Santos is a city with a high number of elderly people, estimates for the high number of people with dementia reaffirm the need to implement dementia-friendly initiatives to minimize stigma and improve the quality of life of the person with dementia and their caregiver.

Conclusion: It was possible to conclude that the population of Baixada Santista experiences the consequences of stigma in dementia, and can benefit from strategies such as the community friendly to people with dementia, which aim to reduce stigma.