Key research themes
1. How do social determinants and public health interventions affect the health and well-being of homeless populations?
This research theme focuses on the intersection of social determinants such as gender, socioeconomic status, and social stigma with health outcomes and access for homeless populations. It aims to understand the multifactorial causes of homelessness and the challenges faced in accessing adequate health care, social support, and rights, emphasizing the impact of public policies and specialized health programs including Consultórios na Rua (Street Clinics) in Brazil. The theme is significant because it reveals the health inequities experienced by a marginalized group and informs targeted interventions to improve equity and care quality.
2. What barriers limit access to healthcare services for vulnerable populations including people with disabilities and the elderly, and how can quality and equity in primary care be improved?
This theme investigates the practical and systemic obstacles faced by marginalized groups—such as people with disabilities and elderly patients—in accessing and receiving quality healthcare. It evaluates communication, organizational, financial, and attitudinal barriers, and explores perceptions of healthcare users about primary health services. The findings inform how health systems can be more inclusive and responsive to diversity to improve equity in health outcomes.
3. How do discursive practices and social representations shape the societal understanding and policy responses toward homelessness and marginalized groups?
This theme examines the role of discourse—both public and academic—in constructing social identities and perceptions of homelessness and marginalized populations. It includes analyses of media narratives, critical discourse approaches, and ethnographic installations that reveal the tensions between exclusion, social policy, urban space contestation, and representation. Understanding these discourses is essential to inform inclusive, humane policies and challenge stigmatizing ideologies.