The impacts of language decoding and literacy of adults in the cognition of elderly people and its occupational engagement

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundBrazil has a population of 11 million illiterate individuals. This percentage among Brazilians over 60 equals 18%. In view of this, researchers from the Colleges of Medicine and Education from Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, created Alfabetização e Memória (PROAME) – a project that investigates the relations of late literacy with adults’ psychosocial health. The analysis carried out associated the variables of mental and social health to the literacy process, taking into account memory and language aspects.MethodThis study evaluated 130 illiterate adults living in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. 108 participants fitted all criteria and agreed to undergo this survey. There were 31 men (28,4%) and 78 women (71,5%); their average age was 58,5 (±9,6). Regarding race, 91% were black/brown (83,4%), 11 were white (10,1%) and 1 was indigenous (0,1%). 80 of those participants completed all clinical evaluations, interviews and pedagogical diagnoses before and after our intervention through a period of 7 months. The goal was to qualitatively analyze the participants’ discourse, focusing on evidence of the improvement of their autonomy. This was done by associating aspects from occupational engagement to the so‐called social literacy, which consist in the practical application of reading and writing on previously illiterate adults.ResultThe average age of the participants who completed the evaluations was 58,9 (±9,1), and 64 of them were women (80,0%). Both the interviews (made before and after our intervention) and the pedagogic report of 15 random individuals were analyzed. The results show progress in: their engagement in meaningful activities of daily life; their autonomy, sociability and self esteem; their use of technological applications; their occupational repertoire and their reading and writing abilities.ConclusionA pedagogical intervention made up by specific reading and writing activities, carried out with illiterate adults during 6 months, resulted in benefits for the participants. However, in face of the high illiteracy levels in Brazil, it is necessary a broader engagement in developing studies and literacy programs for adults as political, educational and health goals. By raising the literacy levels, we expect to guarantee the rights of marginalized individuals in Brazilian society.