Human needs of the inhabitants of Tacumbú Swamp, from the perspective of their community leaders. Asunción, Paraguay

Abstract

Human needs are deficiencies or requirements experienced by people, which are fundamental for their physical, psychological, and social well-being. The objective was to analyze the human needs of the inhabitants of Tacumbu Swamp (Bañado Tacumbú in Spanish) of Asunción. This community presents specific social and economic demands. Descriptive study with a qualitative phenomenological approach. Purposive sampling, whose sample was made up of residents, leaders and referents of the neighborhood who work in different organizational areas of the community, nine semi-structured interviews were conducted. The instrument used was a guide of open questions, elaborated on the basis of the categories of analysis, perception of the social and economic reality of the community, felt needs and improvements introduced in the community. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and entered into analysis matrices. The participation of the subjects has been voluntary with prior verbal consent. The results reveal that the community leaders have academic training and are aware of the situation of their community. The needs expressed demand concrete state responses, and improvements in the community are attributed to collective effort and local organizations. In agreement with the reference theorists, it is concluded that needs are universal for the development of people for a dignified existence, therefore, physical survival and personal autonomy are the conditioning factors of any individual action according to the culture. This research provides new knowledge about the reality of the area as a historical review for the inhabitants of Tacumbú Swamp (Bañado Tacumbú).