Baixada Santista Research Articles

Overview of Trauma Injuries Caused by Traffic Accidents in Baixada Santista, Brazil

Overview of Trauma Injuries Caused by Traffic Accidents in Baixada Santista, Brazil

Trace elements in an adjacent channel of an anthropized area: a case study of Baixada Santista, Southeastern Brazil

In recent decades, due to intensive industrialization, the Baixada Santista has undergone an intense process of environmental degradation. The metals are toxic and persistent in varying concentrations and oxidation states and may be incorporated in sediments and biota. Thus, understanding the importance of this contamination is necessary for coastal planning. This study provides a basis for understanding the levels of metal and As contamination in the Bertioga Channel (SP). The levels of Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sc, V and Zn in superficial sediment samples were determined by ICP-OES. The degree of sediment contamination was evaluated according to the sediment quality standards set by the Canadian environmental agency (ISQG and PEL) and by statistical tests. All values were below PEL, and most of the sample values were below ISQG, except for As, Cu and Pb. From a cluster analysis, it was possible to differentiate eastern and western parts of the channel due to their distinct hydrodynamic patterns. Furthermore, it was possible to separate the trace elements by geochemical behavior, in which Cu, Pb and Zn were linked to a small anthropogenic contribution. Thus, this study detected small anthropogenic contributions from an adjacent channel of an anthropized area, but most of the results were linked to natural geochemical processes.

Extreme rainfall and landslides as a response to human-induced climate change: a case study at Baixada Santista, Brazil, 2020

In March 2020, an extreme rainfall in Baixada Santista, Brazil, led to a series of landslides affecting more than 2800 people and resulting losses exceeding USD 43 million. This attribution study compared extreme rainfall in two large ensembles of the UK Met Office Hadley Centre HadGEM3-GA6 model that represented the event with and without the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Antecedent rainfall conditions on two different timescales are considered, namely extreme 60-day rainfall (Rx60day) which relates to the soil moisture conditions and extreme 3-day rainfall (Rx3day) which represents landslide triggering heavy rainfall. In the scenario including both natural and human-induced factors the antecedent 60 day rainfall became 74% more likely, while the short-term trigger was 46% more likely. The anthropogenic contribution to changes in rainfall accounted for 20–42% of the total losses and damages. The greatest economic losses occurred in Guarujá (42%), followed by São Vicente (30%) and Santos (28%). Landslides were responsible for 47% of the homes damaged, 85% of the homes destroyed, all reported injuries, and 51% of the deaths associated with heavy rainfall. Changes in land cover and urbanization showed a pronounced increase in urbanized area in Guarujá (107%), São Vicente (61.7%) and Santos (36.9%) and a reduction in farming area. In recent years, the region has experienced an increase in population growth and a rise in the proportion of irregular and/or precarious housing in high-risk areas. Guarujá has the highest number of such dwellings, accounting for 34.8%. Our estimates suggest that extreme precipitation events are having shorter return periods due to climate change and increased urbanization and population growth is exposing more people to these events. These findings are especially important for decision-makers in the context of disaster risk reduction and mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

Food insecurity, nutritional status and socioeconomic factors in the transgender population: a cross-sectional study in the Metropolitan Region of Baixada Santista, Brazil, 2023.

To describe the distribution of nutritional status and food insecurity among the adult transgender population in the Baixada Santista region of the state of São Paulo and to identify associated factors. This was a cross-sectional study using data from the research project entitled Mapping the Transgender Population in Baixada Santista of the state of São Paulo, conducted through a structured questionnaire administered between August and December 2023. The outcomes were nutritional status and food and nutrition insecurity (FNI). The association analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test. A total of 237 people took part in the study. High prevalence of FNI was associated with an income of less than 2 minimum wages (p < 0.001), difficulty finding a job (p < 0.001) and lack of family support related to gender (p = 0.001). Difficulty reading/writing (p = 0.025) and proximity to an open-air market (p = 0.033) were negatively or positively associated with adequate nutritional status, respectively. The high prevalence of FNI among the most vulnerable population and the adequate nutritional status associated with proximity to open-air markets indicate the need for policies aimed at reducing inequities and expand access to adequate food.

Food insecurity, nutritional status and socioeconomic factors in the transgender population: a cross-sectional study in the Metropolitan Region of Baixada Santista, Brazil, 2023

RESUMO Objetivo Descrever a distribuição do estado nutricional e insegurança alimentar da população trans adulta da região da Baixada Santista, no estado de São Paulo, e identificar fatores associados. Métodos Dados provenientes do estudo transversal Mapeamento da População Trans na Baixada Santista de São Paulo, conduzido com aplicação de questionário estruturado entre agosto e dezembro de 2023. Os desfechos foram estado nutricional e insegurança alimentar e nutricional (IAN). Foi realizada análise de associação pelo teste exato de Fisher. Resultados Participaram do estudo 237 pessoas. Alta prevalência de IAN esteve associada à renda menor do que 2 salários mínimos (p &lt; 0,001), dificuldade de encontrar emprego (p &lt; 0,001) e falta de apoio familiar relacionada ao gênero (p = 0,001). Foram associados negativamente ou positivamente à adequação do estado nutricional dificuldade de ler/escrever (p = 0,025) e acesso próximo a feiras livres (p = 0,033), respectivamente. Conclusão A alta prevalência de IAN entre a população mais vulnerabilizada e o estado nutricional adequado associado à presença de feiras livres próximas indicam necessidade de políticas para a redução de iniquidades e ampliação do acesso à alimentação adequada.

Satisfaction of wheelchair users in the Baixada Santista Metropolitan Region

This article seeks to identify user satisfaction in relation to wheelchairs and the provision of public and private health services in the Baixada Santista Metropolitan Region. It involved a cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. Participants answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Brazilian version of the Quebec Assistive Technology User Satisfaction Assessment. Data were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics by means of Student's t test. Cohen's d effect sizes were also calculated. Participants (n = 42) were "more or less satisfied" with the wheelchairs and "quite satisfied" with the services provided. Rigid frame wheelchair users were significantly more satisfied with their wheelchairs compared to users of wheelchairs weighing over 198 lbs. (p = 0.010, d = 1.04). Users of private services showed significantly greater satisfaction with the provision of the service compared to public services users (p = 0.021, d = 0.75). Wheelchair users in the Baixada Santista Metropolitan Region are more satisfied with the rigid frame wheelchair and less satisfied with public services.

Multisensory Stimulation Intervention for elderly people with dementia pilot study

AbstractBackgroundMultisensory Stimulation interventions (MSI) are actions that stimulate the senses such as vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, vestibular and proprioceptive systems. MSI interventions for people with dementia syndromes can offer stimuli that facilitate sensory modulation and capitalize on these individuals' residual sensorimotor skills. There are still few studies that point to the benefits of MSI Interventions in elderly people living in the Brazilian community.ObjectiveTo evaluate the benefits of an MSI Intervention proposal based on the principles of Snoezelen for elderly people with dementia syndromes.Materials and MethodsThe MSI Intervention will be developed in 12 individual sessions, lasting 45 minutes, with a weekly frequency. Sensory sensations such as vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell and proprioception will be stimulated and will be applied to 10 elderly people with dementia, considering that it is a pilot study. The study will be carried out at the Dementia Care Service (SADe) at the Baixada Santista campus of the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). The benefits of the MSI Intervention will be evaluated by objective measures (blood pressure and heart rate) and changes in behavior and by subjective measures of perceived benefits of MSI that will be applied before and after the intervention and comparative analysis considering pre‐ and post‐intervention and the effect size of the intervention.Result: and ConclusionThe study in question is in progress and the reults and conclusions will be presented at the congress.

Describing Trends in Maternal Mortality in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, from 2009 to 2019.

Maternal mortality is a significant public health concern, with varying impacts across different regions in Brazil, particularly affecting women from lower-income social classes with limited access to social resources. The aim of this study is to describe the trends in maternal mortality in São Paulo, Brazil, from 2009 to 2019. This study employed an ecological approach utilizing a time-series design to examine maternal deaths. Secondary data from the Mortality Information System (SIM) and the Live Births Information System (SINASC) from 2009 to 2019 were utilized. The analysis included all maternal deaths among women aged 10 to 49 years residing in the state of São Paulo. Time-series data for maternal mortality ratios were constructed for the seven regions within São Paulo State. Joinpoint regression analysis was applied to characterize the maternal mortality ratio. The study estimated the annual percentage variation, the average annual percentage variation, and their respective 95% confidence intervals. In São Paulo, a total of 3075 maternal deaths were reported, resulting in a mortality ratio of 45.9 deaths per 100,000 live births. The leading causes of maternal death were eclampsia (7.13%), gestational hypertension (6.09%), and postpartum hemorrhage (5.89%). The analysis of the annual percentage change in the maternal mortality ratio for São Paulo State and its six clusters showed stationarity. The assessment of the maternal mortality ratio in the state of São Paulo, Greater São Paulo, and Baixada Santista revealed an increase in the maternal death ratio over the studied period.

Health promotion and pedagogical practice in physical education in the context of a public gym

The objective of the study was to understand the cultural dynamics related to health promotion in the context of the pedagogical practice of Physical Education professionals working in a public gym in a municipality of Baixada Santista, State of São Paulo – Brazil. In the method, an ethnography was proposed, which used participant observation over a semester, as well as conducting semi-structured interviews with two Physical Education professionals and five local residents and gym users, in addition to daily notes in the field notebook. Data analysis was done through triangulation and the use of non-aprioristic categories. Thus, the use of such strategies allowed us to immerse ourselves in the field of research and revealed the customs, practices, values and diversity of work inherent to the concepts, meanings and meanings attributed to that pedagogical practice. Finally, what can be stated is that in the daily rites of that cultural dynamic, the treatment given to the promotion of health is understood in a non-directive format about the steps that make up the pedagogical practice in Physical Education.

Association between APOε4 allele and cognitive function in healthy Brazilians elderly from Baixada Santista

AbstractBackgroundThe faster memory decline was associated with the presence of the apolipoprotein E4 (APOε4) allele, a genetic risk factor for late‐onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Studies suggest that the relationship between cognitive decline and APOE ε4 allele in healthy elderly may reflect the preclinical risk to AD. This study examined the influence of apolipoprotein E4 (APOε4) genotype on the cognitive function of the older people from Baixada Santista (Brazil).MethodThis study was approved by the Ethical Committee Board from Medical School/UNIMES (Number: CAAE 20938619.4.0000.5509). Seventy‐two participants with ≥65 years old, both sexes. were eligible for the study. Cognitive function and the level of physical activity were assessed by the mini‐mental state examination (MMSE) and Baecke questionnaire for older, respectively. APOE genotyping was performed in 66 out of the 72 participants. Statistical analysis was performed by using the BioEstat version 5.0, Kolmogorov‐Smirnov test, z‐score, student t or Mann‐Whitney test was applied according to the normality. The Chi‐square test was used for comparison between the sexes. Pearson correlation was also performed. P &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsSeventy‐two older people were assessed (women = 52 and men = 20), and the mean age was 73±7 years old, Baecke score (3.74 ±3.82), MMSE (27±3), and educational status (8 ± 4 years). As expected, a positive correlation was detected between the education level and MMSE score (r = 0.359, p &lt; 0.05). No difference was found between the sexes for age, level of physical activity, MMSE, and education status (p &gt; 0.05). Regarding the APOE genotype, we found the following frequency ɛ2/ɛ2 (1.5%), ɛ2/ɛ3 (16.7%), ɛ2/ɛ4 (1.5%), ɛ3/ ɛ3 (59.1%), and ɛ3/ɛ4 (21.2%). No correlation was found between carriers (presence of the ɛ4 allele) and non‐carrier for the MMSE score, varying between 27 to 30.ConclusionOur preliminary data show that the less educational status influences the cognitive decline in the older Brazilian population. However, no differences between the sexes were observed for all parameters indicating a homogenous population. Additionally, the cognitive function score was not influenced by the presence of the APOɛ4 allele in this population.

Remote sensing reveals unprecedented sublethal impacts of a 40-year-old oil spill on mangroves

Oil spills cause long-lasting mangrove loss, threatening their conservation and ecosystem services worldwide. Oil spills impact mangrove forests at various spatial and temporal scales. Yet, their long-term sublethal effects on trees remain poorly documented. Here, we explore these effects based on one of the largest oil spills ever recorded, the Baixada Santista pipeline leak, which hit the mangroves of the Brazilian southeastern coast in 1983. Historical, Landsat-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) maps over the spilled mangrove reveal a large dieback of trees within a year following the oil spill, followed by a eight-year recolonization period and a stabilization of the canopy cover, however 20–30% lower than initially observed. We explain this permanent loss by an unexpected persistence of oil pollution in the sediments based on visual and geochemical evidence. Using field spectroscopy and cutting-edge drone hyperspectral imaging, we demonstrate how the continuous exposure of mangrove trees to high levels of pollution affects their health and productivity in the long term, by imposing permanent stressful conditions. Our study also reveals that tree species differ in their sensitivity to oil, giving the most tolerant ones a competitive advantage to recolonize spilled mangroves. By leveraging drone laser scanning, we estimate the loss of forest biomass caused by the oil spill to be 9.8–91.2 t ha−1, corresponding to 4.3–40.1 t C ha−1. Based on our findings, we encourage environmental agencies and lawmakers to consider the sublethal effects of oil spills on mangroves in the environmental cost of these accidents. We also encourage petroleum companies to use drone remote sensing in monitoring routines and oil spill response planning to improve mangrove preservation and impact assessment.

A traveling SARS-CoV-2 laboratory as part of a pandemic response among vulnerable Brazilian populations

BackgroundBrazil has been dramatically hit by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and is a world leader in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Additionally, the largest country of Latin America has been a continuous source of SARS-CoV-2 variants and shows extraordinary variability of the pandemic strains probably related to the country´s outstanding position as a Latin American economical and transportation hub. Not all regions of the country show sufficient infrastructure for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and genotyping which can negatively impact the pandemic response.MethodsDue to this reason and to disburden the diagnostic system of the inner São Paulo State, the Butantan Institute established the Mobile Laboratory (in Portuguese: LabMovel) for SARS-CoV-2 testing which started a trip of the most important “hotspots” of the most populous Brazilian region. The LabMovel initiated in two important cities of the State: Aparecida do Norte (an important religious center) and the Baixada Santista region which incorporates the port of Santos, the busiest in Latin America. The LabMovel was fully equipped with an automatized system for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and sequencing/genotyping. It also integrated the laboratory systems for patient records and results divulgation including in the Federal Brazilian Healthcare System.ResultsCurrently,16,678 samples were tested, among them 1,217 from Aparecida and 4,564 from Baixada Santista. We tracked the delta introductio in the tested regions with its high diversification. The established mobile SARS-CoV-2 laboratory had a major impact on the Public Health System of the included cities including timely delivery of the results to the healthcare agents and the Federal Healthcare system, evaluation of the vaccination status of the positive individuals in the background of exponential vaccination process in Brazil and scientific and technological divulgation of the fieldwork to the most vulnerable populations.ConclusionsThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has demonstrated worldwide the importance of science to fight against this viral agent and the LabMovel shows that it is possible to integrate researchers, clinicians, healthcare workers and patients to take rapid actions that can in fact mitigate this and other epidemiological situations.

Geotechnical characterization of an amphibolite from Baixada Santista-SP, Brazil

This work presents the results of the characterization of a sound to slightly weathered amphibolite, sampled at Baixada Santista, on the coast of the state of São Paulo, in the southeastern region of Brazil. Initially, petrographic analysis of material sheets were performed. Characterization tests were carried out to determine the physical indexes and to determine p-wave propagation velocity. For the mechanical characterization of these materials, uniaxial compression and point load tests were carried out in two different loading directions. The results of the micro petrographic analysis indicate that an average of 66% of the analysed minerals did not present weathering and 34% percent of the minerals are the result of weathering. The physical characterization results indicate (average values) of apparent porosity equal to 2.77%, apparent absorption capacity of 0.92% and apparent specific dry mass of 2.69 g/cm3. The results of p-wave propagation velocity measurements indicate a 2.63% reduction in the wave velocity of the ones measured on parallel direction to the ones on perpendicular direction. As for the mechanical characterization tests, there was an average value of uniaxial compressive strength equal to 77.40 MPa for samples loaded on the parallel direction and 92.96 MPa for samples loaded on the perpendicular direction (differences of about 20%). For the point load compression tests, an Is50 value of 2.44 MPa was obtained for the samples loaded on the direction parallel to the foliation and of 5.41 MPa for the samples loaded on the perpendicular direction (increase of about 121%). The UCS/Is50 ratio was determined for both loading directions, being equal to 17.2 and 31.7 for samples loaded on the parallel and perpendicular directions to the foliation, respectively.

Analysis of some climatic variables of a coastal city in southeastern São Paulo State, Brazil

The present work addresses the influence of urban structure on the microclimate of the municipality of Bertioga (São Paulo State, Brazil), which is located on the northeastern edge of Baixada Santista, aiming at the environmental comfort, more specifically thermal, of the city's residents and tourists. Data on temperatures, humidity relative, among other items, and information about the surroundings of each measured point were collected, with a measurement taken at thirty-eight points during winter and the same issues during spring, as just one measurement at three points made in the city of Santos during the winter. We observed some urban factors, such as the direction of the streets, the direction of the prevailing wind, the presence of construction barriers, the type of soil or paving, and shading due to trees influenced the differences found.

Spatial, spatio-temporal, and origin-destination flow analyses of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome hospitalized for COVID-19 in Southeastern Brazil, 2020-2021

Brazil experienced one of the fastest increasing numbers of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases worldwide. The Sao Paulo State (SPS) reported a high incidence, particularly in Sao Paulo municipality. This study aimed to identify clusters of incidence and mortality of hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome for COVID-19 in the SPS, in 2020-2021, and describe the origin flow pattern of the cases. Cases and mortality risk area clusters were identified through different analyses (spatial clusters, spatio-temporal clusters, and spatial variation in temporal trends) by weighting areas. Ripley's K12-function verified the spatial dependence between the cases and infrastructure. There were 517,935 reported cases, with 152,128 cases resulting in death. Of the 470,441 patients hospitalized and residing in the SPS, 357,526 remained in the original municipality, while 112,915 did not. Cases and death clusters were identified in the Sao Paulo metropolitan region (SPMR) and Baixada Santista region in the first study period, and in the SPMR and the Campinas, Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Barretos, and Sorocaba municipalities during the second period. We highlight the priority areas for control and surveillance actions for COVID-19, which could lead to better outcomes in future outbreaks.

Impacts of the Port Activities in Guarujá-SP, Brazil: Biological Monitoring as a Tool for the Assessment of Atmospheric Pollution

Guarujá, a tourist city in Baixada Santista – SP that comprises the left bank of the Port of Santos, which plays a leading role as a lever for the country's economic development. However, because of its intense expansion, the city was surprised by an important logistical bottleneck for the flow of production, which generates intense congestion in the streets close to the port area. The lack of fluidity in traffic culminates in intense emission of gases and particulate matter (PM), resulting in increased of atmospheric pollution. Although the Environmental Company of the State of São Paulo (CETESB) is responsible for monitoring air quality, in Guarujá this monitoring is recent and has only one manual station. Vicente de Carvalho is the neighborhood where Porto is located and where, predominantly, its activities and negotiations take place. The population who lives in the place is around 150,000 inhabitants. Therefore, monitoring by CETESB is not representative of polluting activities. This research presents the concentrations of heavy metals that were determined, by an alternative method, which uses plants as bioindicators of pollution. Cadmium is a metal that is commonly present in the composition of diesel. Its concentrations in areas with intense movement of trucks were 155 times greater than those observed in regions without pollution. The diagnosis of pollution carried out in Guarujá has contributed to the understanding of the complexity of urban environmental problems, providing SEMAM with inputs for the formulation of public policies aimed at achieving fairer and more balanced socio-environmental conditions.

Percepção de profissionais da saúde e da educação sobre o Programa Saúde na Escola

ABSTRACT This article consists of a case study that aimed to identify health and education professionals’ perceptions of the School Health Program (PSE) actions in a suburban territory of Baixada Santista, São Paulo. Three educational counselors from two schools, a PSE articulator, a therapeutic companion, a psychologist, two nurses, and a community health worker were interviewed. The transcribed interviews were submitted to lexographic analysis and descending hierarchical classification in the software IRaMuTeQ-R. They were later analyzed based on the theoretical references on the PSE, school health, and intersectoriality. The results showed that the PSE actions focus on the matrix support meeting, referrals, vaccination verification, oral health, and eye health. The inadequate continuing training, poor knowledge of the PSE policy, and overwork compromise the full consideration of the program’s objectives, which, traversed by the pandemic, escalated the challenges faced by professionals. There is potential to be explored by the meeting of health and education. However, challenges involving these sectors, the traditional management rationale, the biological approach, and social participation should be overcome to advance towards intersectoral proposals to promote health and well-being.

Criteria for Selecting Areas to Identify Ecosystem Services Provided by Geodiversity: A Study on the Coast of São Paulo, Brazil

Ecosystem services are essential for life. Despite traditionally focusing on biodiversity, several studies have presented the ecosystem services provided by geodiversity. However, the choice of the study area is still a step that raises doubts for the researcher. Several elements of geodiversity must occur in the area so that different ecosystem services can be identified. Thus, the selection of the study area is a crucial step of the research. This work aims to determine the criteria for the selection of potential areas for the identification of ecosystem services by geodiversity in Baixada Santista, central coast of São Paulo, Brazil. The criteria established were (i) characterization of the physical environment based on the geodiversity index map and the watershed map and (ii) description of land use based on the characterization of land use and analysis of territorial planning instruments. As a result, the watershed with high levels of geodiversity and diversity of land uses was selected. The criterion was important, as it is an area already used in soil management and different land uses can provide a variety of ecosystem services. Thus, these criteria proved to be effective in the selection of areas for the evaluation of ecosystem services by geodiversity.

Temporal trends of persistent organic pollutant contamination in Franciscana dolphins from the Southwestern Atlantic

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were analyzed in 136 blubber samples of Franciscana dolphins from Brazil (Pontoporia blainvillei), which is the most threatened dolphin in the Southwestern Atlantic. The dolphins were caught by the fishery fleet and collected from 2000 to 2018 in three regions of São Paulo state: northern São Paulo (SPN), central São Paulo (SPC), and southern São Paulo (SPS). The POPs analyzed in this study were polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDTs), Mirex, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), chlordane compounds (CHLs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The concentrations ranged from 36 to 7200 ng g−1 lipid weight (lw) and 113–42200 ng g−1 lw for predominant compounds DDTs and PCBs, respectively. Similar profiles of PCB congeners were observed with a predominance of hexachlorinated compounds, representing approximately 50% of the total PCB amount; the highest PCB concentrations were observed from Baixada Santista (SPC) proximate to a highly urbanized and industrial coastal area. Significant differences were observed between the sexes and maturity of dolphins, mainly for PCBs, DDTs, and Mirex. In general, POPs other than HCB in Franciscana dolphins showed downward temporal trends, matching the regulatory periods for restricting and/or banning these compounds. Although POP concentrations are declining, PCB levels remain high in small dolphins, suggesting adverse health effects on Franciscanas. As organic contaminants are one of the numerous threats Franciscanas have been vulnerable to along the Brazilian coast, we recommend monitoring POPs levels every five years to check for declining (or stabilizing) trends.

EcoSol-agroecology networks respond to the Covid-19 crisis: building an economy of proximity in Brazil’s Baixada Santista region

ABSTRACT In 2020–2021 the Covid-19 crisis worsened the harms from the hegemonic agribusiness model, while also providing opportunities for alternatives. Since long before the crisis, Latin American civil society networks had been building an agroecology-based solidarity economy (here EcoSol-agroecology for short). These networks have linked agroecological production methods with collective marketing through short food-supply chains (circuitos curtos), establishing closer relationships with consumers. Such initiatives have been expanded, despite adverse government policies and Covid-19 obstacles. This expansion has been widely understood as strengthening social proximities. As the analytical contribution here, EcoSol-agroecology networks build an ‘economy of proximity’, based on proximate purposes such as mutual aid, democratic self-management, women's leadership, food security and biodiverse resource conservation. These solidaristic purposes help to activate other proximities (geographical, organisational, institutional, and cultural), while also linking them. Collective capacities have developed those proximities in context-specific ways. This strategic perspective has informed EcoSol-agroecology networks in Brazil's Baixada Santista region, the site of grassroots voices in this case study. Diverse contributions have been integrated into a composite culture as a symbolic site of belonging. As global elites seek to restore the hegemonic agri-food system after the Covid-19 pandemic, a different future depends on building the social proximities of EcoSol-agroecology.