Protagonismo nas práticas informacionais de mães de crianças alérgicas

Abstract

Food allergy affects 6-8% of children in Brazil, according to the Brazilian Association of Allergy and Immunology (ASBAI). Unlike the cases of food intolerance, one individual affected by allergy may not have any contact with the allergenic substance, under the risk of severe reactions, including anaphylactic shock and death. To avoid these risks, parents of children with food allergies need to be aware of daily preventive measures. Therefore, access to such information is an essential resource of food security maintenance for parents. Based on this statement, this research aims to understand how the informational practices of parents of children with food allergies influences the quality of life assurance of these individuals. The main objective is to analyze these practices from the perspective of the social paradigm of Information Science. This research intends to observe and promote the discussion on childs food allergy in Brazil, at a time when the issue is highlighted in the country due to the regulation of labeling of allergens in 2015. The research contributes to the study of a social paradigm within user's Studies in Information Science, which is still under developed within the field. The methodology is qualitative and the method is semi-structured in-depth interview. Based on Movimento Põe no Rótulo suggestions, references given by specialist doctors and other mothers of allergic children, and groups related to the subject on the internet, seven face to face interviews with parents of children with food allergy resident in Belo Horizonte (MG) and metropolitan area were conducted. The analysis of the data was based on the bidimensional model of informational practices proposed by McKenzie (2003) and the extended version of Yeoman (2010). From the interviews, informational practices adopted by mothers were identified, which were inserted into 16 categories of analysis. Each of these categories was related to the models proposed by McKenzie (2003) and Yeoman (2010), being possible to observe the existence of all modes and phases present in the models. It was also possible to observe the relevance of informational practices of mothers to maintain the quality of life of allergic children.