title: [Focus groups with women from quilombo communities in Brazil].
abstract: This article discusses an experience using the focus group technique with women from a quilombo, or community of descendants of African slaves in Brazil. This is a descriptive qualitative anthropological study of 13 women from a quilombo in rural Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The focus group technique allowed an approach, interaction, and exchange of knowledge, experiences, perceptions, and feelings, in addition to problematization and in-depth discussion concerning the meaning of women's health care in the quilombo. The focus group was a prime space for learning and understanding the life experiences of quilombola women and the meanings they assigned to the experiences. In order to use the focus group technique, researchers must display creativity, sensitivity, attention, respect, nonjudgmental attitudes, flexibility, prior preparation, and knowledge of the technique and specific study topic.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brasil.
authors.forename: Lisie Alende
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Prates
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fernando Gomes
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Ceccon
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brasil.
authors.forename: Camila Neumaier
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brasil.
authors.forename: Laís Antunes
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carolina Carbonell
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Demori
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil.
authors.forename: Silvana Cruz da
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brasil.
authors.forename: Lúcia Beatriz
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Ressel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult