O acesso à informação pelo deficiente visual e suas implicações para a promoção da saúde.

Abstract

The following study aims to analyse the factors that enable and hinder the information access by visually impaired individuals, which affect their quality of life. Initially, by means of a narrative literature review, this research brings a theoretical discussion about this work’s core concepts (Visually Impaired Individual, Access to Information, Promotion of Health) and also the supporting factors in the access to information by the visually impaired (Cognitive Support, Social Support, Technological Support). During a second phase, by means of a Systematic Review of Literature (SRL) and also Metha-Etnography evidence regarding enabling and hindering factors was gathered. The data was then arranged in eight categories, according to the responsibility attributed to these factors. The third phase had the specific goal of evaluating the potential of social networks to be a support for visually impaired individuals. In order to do so, a quantitative exploratory case study of the Facebook group Low Vision was carried out, by means of the Social Network Analysis technique (SNA). The overall results of the research point to a diverse combination of multidisciplinary, juxtaposed, interrelated factors, which interfere in the information access. According to systematic review, social aspects have been found to exist as the most frequent. The case study has pointed out to sixteen themed categories of existing topics, as well as to a relatively dense social network surrounding the support offered, in comparison patterns of behavior in Web (online) environments. The support offered is more frequent, but promotes fewer interactions with users in relation to the support requested. The instrumental type of support has presented similar results in comparison to the support offered, since it has been more frequent. However, it resulted in relationships that were less broad and less intense. The research has pointed the need to evaluate the dynamics of intervening factors in information access, and the extent of the impact caused in the quality of life of the visually impaired. The tools provided by social networks may be important channels for the promotion of health by means of the provision of a social support group. The analysis of social networks has shown itself to be an important technique for the analysis of information exchanged in online environments for social support.