Homeless people's social representations about self-care

Perception of Risk for Developing Severe Illness or Complications from COVID-19 in Brazil: Focus on Factors Linked to Socially Vulnerable Populations, 2020-2023

In this study, the aim was to comparatively examine the perception of risk for developing severe illness or complications due to COVID-19 among the general population and socially vulnerable populations in Brazil, focusing on uncovering the associated factors that disproportionately impacted people experiencing homelessness and slum dwellers. This study is part of the project "Social Thermometer-COVID-19 in Brazil", which employed a hybrid approach, combining a national online survey with field research in state capitals and the Federal District. Data collection took place from August 2020 to October 2023, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. A total of 5094 participants were included in this study, with 2363 from the general population and 2731 from the socially vulnerable population. Among the general population, the majority of participants were women, white individuals, those with higher incomes, formal employment, and higher education levels. Concerning the vulnerable population, most were men, Black individuals, those with lower incomes, unemployment, and lower education levels. It was observed that 87% of the general population perceived a risk of severe COVID-19, compared to 74% of the vulnerable population. Slum dwellers who received emergency aid (ORa = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.02-1.91), adhered to mask-wearing practices (ORa = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.39-2.66), used COVID-19-related medications (ORa = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.31-3. 64), and those with pre-existing conditions, such as high blood pressure (ORa = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.20-2.98), demonstrated a heightened perception of risk for severe COVID-19 complications. Among the homeless population, individuals who wore masks (ORa = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.26-2.20 and had been vaccinated (ORa = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.04-1.98) were also more likely to perceive a high risk. In conclusion, in this study, significant disparities are revealed in the perception of COVID-19 risk between the general and socially vulnerable populations in Brazil. Factors such as receiving emergency aid, adherence to mask-wearing, use of COVID-19-related medications, and pre-existing health conditions were associated with increased risk perception. Despite facing greater socioeconomic challenges, vulnerable groups, particularly those experiencing homelessness and slum dwellers, showed a lower perception of the risk for severe COVID-19 complications.

(Re)Construction of the body of transgender women: daily search for (in)satisfaction and care?

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the structure and contents of transgender women's social representations of their bodies and body modification practices.

METHODS

Research conducted with 92 women using the Snowball technique. The data were collected using the free evocation of words technique and processed by the Evoc software, which organized the central and peripheral elements.

RESULTS

The representation of the real body includes two structuring aspects: one related to the need to adapt/modify the body conformation according to the self-reported gender, because of the dissatisfaction with the body itself; the second reveals the happiness/satisfaction considering the results obtained through the body modification/adaptation practices adopted in the transition.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

The body is constituted as a complex object and was represented by elements that reinforce the understanding of body modifications as needs, with a view to satisfaction, personal fulfillment, and care of one's own body.

Desigualdades en salud de adolescentes en situación de calle

Resumen Objetivo: evidenciar las desigualdades en salud de adolescentes que viven en situación de calle con base en el marco conceptual de los determinantes sociales en salud. Método: investigación de métodos mixtos con enfoque convergente paralelo. La población estuvo formada por adolescentes en situación de calle, cuya muestra fue intencional con saturación de los datos. Los datos cuantitativos se obtuvieron por medio de un cuestionario; y los cualitativos, mediante entrevista semiestructurada. Resultados: participaron en el estudio 19 adolescentes en situación de calle, de los cuales 13 (68,4%) con edades entre 16 y 19 años; 11 (57,9%) eran del sexo masculino, tres (15,8%) del sexo femenino y cinco (26,3%), adolescentes trans. Los participantes experimentan diferencias en la exposición y vulnerabilidad a las condiciones que comprometen la salud y que están directamente relacionadas con los determinantes intermedios de la salud. Conclusión: el estudio permitió comprender las desigualdades relativas a la salud de adolescentes en situación de calle y reunió evidencias para estrategias que promuevan la equidad y la dignidad en el cuidado a la salud.

Desigualdades em saúde de adolescentes em situação de rua

Resumo Objetivo: evidenciar as desigualdades em saúde de adolescentes em situação de rua com base no marco conceitual dos determinantes sociais em saúde. Método: pesquisa de métodos mistos com abordagem convergente paralela. A população foi composta por adolescentes em situação de rua, cuja amostra foi intencional com saturação dos dados. Os dados quantitativos foram obtidos por meio de questionário; e os qualitativos, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada. Resultados: participaram do estudo 19 adolescentes em situação de rua, sendo 13 (68,4%) com idade entre 16 e 19 anos; 11 (57,9%) do gênero masculino, três (15,8%) do gênero feminino e cinco (26,3%) adolescentes trans. Os participantes experimentam diferenças na exposição e vulnerabilidade a condições que comprometem a saúde e que estão diretamente relacionadas aos determinantes intermediários de saúde. Conclusão: o estudo permitiu compreender as desigualdades relativas à saúde de adolescentes em situação de rua e reuniu evidências para estratégias que promovam equidade e dignidade no cuidado à saúde.

Health inequalities among homeless adolescents

Abstract Objective: highlight health inequalities of homeless adolescents based on the conceptual framework of social determinants of health. Method: this is a convergent parallel mixed-methods study. The population consisted of adolescents who are homeless, with purposeful sampling and data saturation. Quantitative data were obtained with a questionnaire and qualitative data through semi-structured interviews. Results: 19 homeless adolescents participated in the study, 13 (68.4%) aged 16 to 19 years; 11 (57.9%) were male, 3 (15.8%) were female, and 5 (26.3%) were transgender adolescents. Participants experienced different levels of exposure and vulnerabilities to conditions that affect health and were directly related to intermediate determinants of health. Conclusion: this study provides an understanding of the inequalities related to the health of homeless adolescents and shows evidence that supports strategies to promote equity and dignity in health care.

(Re)Construção do corpo de mulheres transgêneras: busca cotidiana de (in)satisfação e cuidado?

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a estrutura e os conteúdos das representações sociais de mulheres transgêneras sobre o corpo e práticas de modificação corporal adotadas. Métodos: Pesquisa realizada com 92 mulheres mediante a técnica Snowball. Os dados foram coletados com auxílio da técnica de evocação livre de palavras e processadas pelo software Evoc, que organizou os elementos centrais e periféricos. Resultados: A representação do corpo real abarca dois aspectos estruturantes: um relativo à necessidade de adequar/modificar a conformação corporal consoante o gênero autorreferido, por causa da insatisfação com o próprio corpo; o segundo revela a felicidade/satisfação considerando os resultados obtidos por meio das práticas de modificações/adequações corporais adotadas na transição. Considerações finais: O corpo se constitui como um objeto complexo e foi representado por elementos que reforçam a compreensão das modificações corporais como necessidades, com vistas à satisfação, realização pessoal e cuidados com o próprio corpo.