Abordagens conceituais sobre a doença falciforme em livros didáticos de biologia do ensino médio

Abstract

Sickle Cell Disease is the most prevalent genetic and hereditary disease in Brazil, being Bahia the State with the highest incidence of the country. Due to the high frequency and because it is a chronic systemic disease, this pathology is a public health problem. This work aimed to analyze the approach of the conceptual contents related to Sickle Cell Disease, its context and approaches in four Biology Textbooks of high school distributed by the PNLD / 2015 used in the schools of the Recôncavo Baiano. Specifically, we performed a quali-quantitative evaluation of the messages present in the textual elements that approach Sickle Cell Disease; we identified how the textbooks present the concepts of Sickle Cell Disease, considering: epidemiological data, natural history, presence or absence of illustrations referring to the theme; and we identify and evaluate the activities included in the books. Of bibliographical nature, the quali-quantitative analysis was through the content analysis method, through the identification and grouping of messages related to Sickle Cell Disease in context units. An analysis of the subject matter approach was carried out in the textual elements of each book. Of the 33 counties of the Recôncavo Baiano, 27 (81.8%) use at least one of the materials analyzed. The books presented contents related to the subject, however the term Sickle Cell Disease was not found, mentioning only: Sickle Cell Anemia and sicklemia (synonym), being this one belonging to the group of Sickle Cell Diseases that encompasses other hemoglobinopathies associated with hemoglobin S. Only one book dedicated several pages to the content presenting 29 messages about the disease, and no subject related to crisis prevention and self-care were identified. The four books presented conceptual errors, especially when affirming that the Sickle Cell Anemia carrier dies in childhood, which can cause psychobehavioral disorders which may alter the natural course of their life history. In addition, people with Sickle Cell Disease when they perform good health management, since the diagnosis, have a very favorable clinical course. Although the books aproach with the epidemiological data of the disease, this information was not deepened and the books did not even mention Brazil and the distribution of the HbS allele in the regions of the country. Given the importance of the theme, it is concluded that the correct approach is necessary, especially in Textbooks, since these are used by individuals living with this disease. The absence of Brazilian epidemiological data hides the high frequency of the disease in the country, being this a relevant issue for public health and education policies. The approach to this theme in Textbooks needs more attention from publishers especially on the veracity of the information. Nevertheless, it is up to the teacher to analyze and choose the best book for the region among the existing ones, opting for the closest material that meets the sociocultural diversity of the Brazilian regions, being this a global recommendation that is not directly linked to this disease alone.