"Crias da Maré": young men, social inequalities and health in times of pandemic

Abstract

This article discusses the perceptions of young men aged 18-29 living in the favela Complexo da Maré, Rio de Janeiro about health-disease processes and social inequalities in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews conducted between September 2022 and February 2023 and analyzed using thematic content analysis. The results provide a picture of health, social inequalities and territory from the participants’ perspective. Reflecting on adherence to health actions, sociability in the favela and their daily experiences of violence and racism, these young men offer a unique view of men's health that extends beyond the public health emergency.