**Author details**

*Quality of Life - Biopsychosocial Perspectives*

Population Census, for example, there were gender differences in the aging process, as more than 55% of the population aged 60 and over were women, and this number increases proportionally to the age cohort. This phenomenon was called the "feminization of aging" and brings up discussions about gender experiences to gerontology [21]. Other aspects that exacerbate the differences in the aging process of the Brazilian population are the inequalities between rural and urban areas. Similar to other studies, our results indicate that the indicators present a rural reality in which poverty, geographic isolation, low educational levels, precarious residences, transportation limitations, chronic health problems, and distance from social and health resources in urban centers predominate. This reality is the result of a historical process of inequalities associated with the social and regional development project in the country, which is rooted in the process of discrimination, stigma, and enslavement

of the black and brown population, often poorer and poorly educated [22].

worse social and health indicators in the country [11].

and social isolation.

**6. Conclusions**

differences regarding the composition of sociodemographic indicators, health conditions, and use and access to health services in the Brazilian elderly population [23]. Black and brown elderly compared to white elderly predominate in the younger age groups (60–69 years), with high dependence exclusively on public health services, less education, and lower income quintile, and live in areas with

In this way, studies reveal that the variable *race/ethnicity* corroborates profound

Quilombola communities are expressions of resistance to the history of social exclusion suffered by black people in Brazil. They are made up of descendants of people who were enslaved and organized into quilombos, spaces that allow the expression of traditional values and practices, based on African ancestry. In these communities, racial inequities translate into vulnerabilities that contribute to the maintenance of material misery, restriction of political participation, and spatial

With this research it was possible to identify the sociodemographic, health, and demographic characteristics of the elderly being interviewed. They represent a social group whose majority are self-declared black; are unable to read and write; have a family income of 1–2 minimum wages, most receive retirement and pension; and are characterized as part of the E socioeconomic stratum. Sanitary and housing conditions are inadequate, lacking a general water supply, adequate garbage collec-

The findings of this study suggest that the living conditions and health status of this population group are poor and worse than those experienced by the general older population in Brazil, revealing the need for effective actions to reduce the inequalities and weaknesses that jeopardize the well-being and quality of life of this group. Major efforts are urgently needed to promote the health and well-being of older Quilombolas in order to meet the needs and reduce the health inequalities identified by this study. Then, the problems identified may guide the planning of actions consistent with the reality experienced by this population and the implementation of measures that

This project is funded by the FAPEMA Universal 00806/17 and the CNPq Universal

Process 406490/2018-0—Universal Call MCTIC/CNPq 2018. All gratitude to the

tion, and better household and community material conditions.

may improve the socioeconomic conditions of Quilombolas.

**228**

**Acknowledgements**

Rafaela Macedo Pires Ferreira1 , Eriko Bruno Costa Barros1 and Bruno Luciano Carneiro Alves de Oliveira1,2\*

1 Medical School Coordenation, Federal University of Maranhão, Pinheiro, Brazil

2 Institute of Studies in Collective Health (IESC/UFRJ), Pinheiro, Brazil

\*Address all correspondence to: oliveira.bruno@ufma.br

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
