Subsídios para estudo dos problemas de saúde mental numa população de prostitutas

Abstract

The present study was carried out in area of prostitution in a town the interior of the State of Sao Paulo. The investigated population consisted of 165 women of which 114 were interviewed of these 89 were tenants, 5 "madams" or "managers" of the es- tablishments and 20 "caftinnes" or "owners". With the objective of analysing some life situations related to the mental health of this population, the investigation was directed towards the collecting of data concerning: 19) personal life conditions; 29) health; 39) motivation and satisfaction at work. Basically two technique were used: participative- observation with informal, individual or group interviews and the application of questionnaires. The collection of Information and data was carried out during a nine month period, of which two and a half months were spend to the application of the research formularies. At the end of the inves tigation, the results obtained showed a population that, althoug possessing some distinctive characteristics, demonstrated sentiments and necessities common to everyone in general. As indicaticns of mental health strong family ties were observed. good relationships between the various elements of the population and the presence of sentiments of happiness and sadness, molded according to the circunstances and expectations for the future and with the levei of reality. On the other hand it was verified to be really a population of outcasts, presenting difficulties in the maintenance of a family structure, profissional and ecconomic stability. The higer number of suicide attempts and daily drunkeness due to work requirements indicates the presence of an existential crisis which needs to be studied more carefully.