Information, control and health promotion in the Brazilian context of the pandemic

Abstract

Summary This article discusses how preventive and promotional discourses have been incorporated by the Brazilian population in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. It analyzes materials posted on the internet and social after the first case of COVID 19-related death in Brazil that are related health promotion and COVID-19 aimed at orienting society’s response to the pandemic. The analysis considers two key factors: the mismanagement of the pandemic by the Brazilian government and infodemic. There is complex use of scientific information with recommendations that focus on what people should do (intervention) and in transforming individuals’ behaviors, based on an ideal model of healthy behaviors. Narratives aimed to delegate to the population and specific groups the task of taking care of themselves have been reinforced, removing from the State the responsibility to offer conditions for the population to address the situation. There is a sophistication of strategies that blame individual practices, personal organization and that are disconnected from the collective, especially for those who live in situation of extreme vulnerability. Concomitantly, there are also discourses based on notions of solidarity and renewed social connections, which are empowering and consistent with the practice of health promotion as it attributes meanings to the subjects and their ways of life. We conclude that greatest advocacy in the field of health promotion at this moment is political and could be directed toward reaffirming health promotion principles, supporting permanent mobilization against setbacks in the public sphere and defending a new, democratic, inclusive and collective vision of society.

Neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations of post-COVID-19 condition in South America: a systematic review of the literature

“… 29 However, as for the control of the pandemic, each country was influenced by the complex dynamics of internal policy and loco-regional inequalities to which they were inserted. 30 Brazil, being the largest country in South America, faced severe consequences of a national policy that did not adequately address the pandemic in a timely manner 31 and, with high contamination rates, in the medium to long term, a high prevalence of post-COVID conditions is expected. A Brazilian cohort identified that after 120 days of the acute phase of COVID-19, 80% of patients had persistent symptoms, the most prevalent being fatigue, dyspnea, cough, headache, and loss of muscle strength.…”

Fake news and misinformation in Brazil: critical analyses regarding scientific information in pandemic times

“…attitudes and behavior were condemned or viewed as inappropriate, and included: gathering in large crowds, taking face-to-face pictures, speaking in close proximity to others, and disrespecting the recommended minimum distance 10 . Unfortunately, these protests are supported by the president and their team, who ignores basic scientific recommendations, and continues to represent the greatest threat to Brazil's response to COVID-19 11 .…”

“…These processes of misinformation from part of our governmental representants make the work of scientists and scientific communication very tricky and challenger. The president has several times questioned the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, support unproven therapies 10,12 , and promoted pseudoscience, he had not available to be vaccinated, and also dis a public announce that he will be the last Brazilian to receive the vaccine. As far as we know, based on the age group, he could have done it for more than 3 months.…”

“…Unfortunately, in Brazil we have a history of events from fake news 10 . Nowadays, the combination of political polarization, increasing use of social media, and low scientific knowledge from the population offers a fertile ground for fake news 14 .…”

O empoderamento na percepção de trabalhadores e usuários de um programa de promoção da saúde do SUS

“…Nesse sentido, há uma sofisticação de estratégias no sentido de culpabilização dos indivíduos, desconectadas de uma perspectiva coletiva. Apesar disso, são construídas estratégias que buscam promover condições de saúde equitativas, a partir de potencialidades de cada território, que fortalecem a promoção da saúde como referência para a defesa da vida (Franceschini et al, 2022).…”