Sexual and reproductive health in the Xukuru of Ororubá ethinic group: tell the women to go forward

Abstract

The aim of the current study is to get to know the sexual and reproduction health practices of women belonging to the Xukuru of Ororubá ethnic group. It followed a descriptive exploratory design, of qualitative approach, based on the Transcultural Care Theory. Eighteen indigenous women from the Cimbres village were interviewed. This village is located in Xukuru of Ororubá territory, Pesqueira County, Pernambuco State - Brazil. The importance of the female character inside indigenous populations is often highlighted; however, the different behavioral patterns and roles attributed to men and women still lies on power relations unfavorable to women. The Xukuru of Ororubá people compose a group that has permanent contact with non-indigenous populations and faces sanitary and health conditions similar to that faced by the general population living in theagreste and sertão regions of Pernambuco State. However, they present specificities; Xukuru of Ororubá women make regular and simultaneous use of biomedicine and indigenous medicine, but without any real articulation. Healthcare teams are challenged to develop cultural sensitivity dynamics; in addition, it is necessary redirecting women-health practices in order to perform nursing practices based on a transcultural approach.