Health and Social Care Inequalities: The Impact of COVID-19 on People Experiencing Homelessness in Brazil

TY - JOUR

T1 - Health and Social Care Inequalities

T2 - The Impact of COVID-19 on People Experiencing Homelessness in Brazil

AU - Rogéria de Andrade Nunes, Nilza

AU - Rodriguez, Andrea

AU - Cinacchi, Giovanna Bueno

PY - 2021/5/22

Y1 - 2021/5/22

N2 - This article aims to reflect on the challenges affecting people experiencing homelessness in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, due the COVID-19 pandemic. Participatory research was carried out to identify data related to sociodemographic profile; strategies for survival; health and social care support; and access to services during the pandemic. The research methodology was co-designed with NGOs and people with lived experience of homelessness and involved conducting semi-structured questionnaires with 304 participants in 2020. The results highlighted the worsening of the situation of extreme vulnerability and poverty already experienced by this population before the pandemic. Key strategies led by Third Sector organizations to reduce the spread of the virus, to minimize the financial impact of lockdown, and to increase emotional support and information on COVID-19 were presented. The conclusions show the complexity of issues affecting these groups and the need for urgent response from public policies and Government support to guarantee their rights, dignity, and respect during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. View Full-Text

AB - This article aims to reflect on the challenges affecting people experiencing homelessness in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, due the COVID-19 pandemic. Participatory research was carried out to identify data related to sociodemographic profile; strategies for survival; health and social care support; and access to services during the pandemic. The research methodology was co-designed with NGOs and people with lived experience of homelessness and involved conducting semi-structured questionnaires with 304 participants in 2020. The results highlighted the worsening of the situation of extreme vulnerability and poverty already experienced by this population before the pandemic. Key strategies led by Third Sector organizations to reduce the spread of the virus, to minimize the financial impact of lockdown, and to increase emotional support and information on COVID-19 were presented. The conclusions show the complexity of issues affecting these groups and the need for urgent response from public policies and Government support to guarantee their rights, dignity, and respect during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. View Full-Text

KW - homelessness

KW - COVID-19

KW - social care

KW - participatory research

KW - Brazil

KW - health inequalities

KW - Homelessness

KW - Participatory research

KW - Health inequalities

KW - Social care

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85106329135

U2 - 10.3390/ijerph18115545

DO - 10.3390/ijerph18115545

M3 - Article

C2 - 34067316

SN - 1660-4601

VL - 18

JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

IS - 11

M1 - 5545

ER -