Repercussions of Internalized Stigma on the Self-Care of Homeless People.

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the occurrence of internalized stigma among homeless people and its relationship with self-care practices.

Method: this is a descriptive and exploratory study, with a qualitative approach, carried out through semi-structured interviews. The research was conducted, between July and October 2023, at the Specialized Reference Centers for the Homeless Population in the city of Recife, Pernambuco. Data analysis was supported by the MAXQDA® software and guided by the methodological framework of thematic content analysis proposed by Bardin.

Results: a total of twenty-two users participated, with a mean age of 34.5 years. The majority were male and had been living on the streets for more than three years. The analysis of reports resulted in three thematic categories: (1) Individuals' feelings about their living conditions on the streets; (2) Perception of how society views them; (3) Perception of the homeless individual about others living in the same conditions.

Final considerations: internalized stigma compromises the homeless population's self-image and self-care, deepening social exclusion. There is a need to critically review existing intersectoral practices, promoting interventions that are more sensitive to the subjective effects of stigma.