Social representations of health in non-hegemonic populations: an intersectional approach to the perceptions of migrant and Roma people in the Basque Country
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22325/fes/res.2025.267Keywords:
health inequalities, intersectionality, qualitative research, race, ethnicityAbstract
Lay conceptions of health are social representations that develop within specific historical and cultural contexts and shape health behaviours. These conceptions are not socially homogeneous but are influenced by various positions of privilege and oppression. This study aimed to explore the diverse social representations of health and illness processes and their determinants, considering diversity in terms of migratory and ethnic backgrounds from an intersectional perspective. A qualitative study was conducted from a socioconstructivist approach, using discussion groups and triangular groups, with a total of 74 participants in the Basque Country (Spain) between October 2023 and May 2024. The findings reveal a continuum: on one end, multidimensional and non-binary conceptions of health that incorporate the social determinants of health model among individuals in positions of power; on the other, representations centred on the physical dimension and defined as the mere absence of disease, aligned with the biomedical model, among the most disadvantaged groups. These findings have important implications for the design of health promotion and prevention strategies, highlighting the need for an intersectional approach to health.
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