The symbolic-representational construction of COVID-19 in vulnerable population groups.

Abstract

Objectives: to analyze the social representations of COVID-19 among residents of a vulnerable community in Rio de Janeiro, to provide insights into healthcare and nursing practices.

Methods: we conducted a mixed-methods study based on the Social Representations Theory (SRT), employing a structural approach. The study was performed with 120 residents from the Rocinha community in Rio de Janeiro. We collected data through a sociodemographic questionnaire and analyzed it using descriptive statistics. Free word associations with the prompt term "COVID-19" were collected and submitted to prototypical and similarity analyses.

Results: The central core of the social representation of COVID-19 was found to comprise the elements "death", "fear", "loss", "disease", and "suffering". The similarity graph reinforced the centrality of "death" and "fear" in these representations.

Final considerations: COVID-19's social representation in this population centered around negative meanings, highlighting their struggle with the disease and the pandemic's economic impact on vulnerable groups.