Lorsque les vécus d’oppression se propagent des patient.es aux chercheur.es : comment intégrer les données expérientielles à la recherche en santé mondiale ?

Abstract

Introduction: Global health researchers tend to focus on the social and structural determinants of health and offer solutions for the "decolonization of public health" by addressing these determinants. These solutions address the root causes of social inequalities in health, but too often ignore the affective and intersubjective dimensions that underlie the complex human relationships in global health.

Methods: In this article, we focus on experiential data through the concept of geo-corpo-political knowledge (Tlostanova & Mignolo, 2009). We explore the emotional experiences we can have as researchers engaging in authentic dialogue in research sites. We draw on collaborative research with Doctors of the World in Montreal, Quebec, focusing on barriers to health care for undocumented migrants to inform our analysis.

Results: In qualitative interviews with caregivers working with this population, we identified paradoxes, areas of silence, and difficulties in verbalizing their lived and emotional experiences.

Discussion: In this paper we go beyond what can be put into words. We aim to explore our feelings as researchers to offer a systemic understanding of the oppression experienced by patients in their interactions with healthcare institutions. We argue that to reach the most marginalized populations and better understand their experiences, it is important to develop research methods that integrate the emotional world of researchers.