Cultura cigana e sua relação com saúde

Abstract

The goal of this study is to determine social representation of gipsy ethnic patients that have from the health/sickness binomial as well as the implications in health care for them and their families. Being a community characterized by a group of people with a specific culture, it was established that the present study would be based on ethnicity, exploratory, descriptive, inductive and transversal criteria. For adequate study, a qualitative paradigm was used applying Spradley´s method which would allow for data collection through participant observation and interviews, although undertaking a semi-structured format, and data analysis by different cultural domains identified in accordance to what gipsy patients think of nursing practices in their health and that of their community. As a result from this study, two cultural aspects were focused on. The first showed that the patient from gipsy culture had confidence in health care provided by the nurse, while the second demonstrated that the gipsy origin patient did not recognize in the nurse knowledge of its culture and, therefore, had no confidence in the care provided by the nurse. Such results lead to the conclusion that patients of gipsy ethnicity appreciate health care provided by nurses, seeing them as professionals essential to their health, although recognizing that not all services are provided which, in the case of increase, would significantly improve their view towards the class. Through this study it has been shown that a greater personalization of health care is needed which, in this case, means increasing the knowledge of gypsy culture, respecting it and identifying its real needs presented by the patients of its community.

Date of Award	Sept 2011
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Margarida Maria Vieira (Supervisor)