Abstract

EYNARD, Martin. Sensations, body and class: Perceptions of the disease in young people with diabetes in the city of Córdoba. Diaeta [online]. 2014, vol.32, n.148, pp.31-37. ISSN 1852-7337.

The sociological analysis on the health-disease-care (H-D-C) process is a valid path to elucidate the interweaving among perceptions, social class and body, as this is - ultimately - the locus of exploitation, conflict, discomfort, pleasure or wellness we have. In addition, the need to register the perspective of the actors as an essential reference in the analytical schemes of HDC processes is increasingly emerging with emphasis from diverse voices. This paper shows how in the perception of the perceived health and illness social class differences are also revealed, since the illness affects objectively and subjectively and in a different way according to the place we are, socially speaking. The objective of the study was to analyze the meanings of the illness in the everyday life of young people (from 20 to 24 years old) with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) coming from different socioeconomic status (SES) in the city of Cordoba. The methodology was qualitative: in-depth interviews and observation, analyzed with the Constant Comparative Method of Glaser and Strauss. The main results indicated that the disease was seen in 5 different ways: 1) as a (new) way of life, 2) as a burden or additional responsibility, 3) as a risk / uncertainty, 4) as a challenge and 5) as a loss or limitation. In conclusion, it was observed that the upper strata conceived the illness in a more positive way than the middle and lower ones, suggesting the existence of class differences in the perspective of the actor upon his illness.

Keywords : Body; Social Class; Diabetes; Perception; Suffering.

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