Gender Perspective of Health Professionals’ Practices on Discharge Services for Patients with Mental Diseases

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Gender produces inequalities in the health-disease-care process, but there has been little research on the care practices related to the discharge process. OBJECTIVES: To describe and analyze the professionals’ practices of discharge services for patients with mental diseases, considering the area of Greater Buenos Aires and a gender perspective. METHODS: A case study of two discharge programs (one of women, one of men) was conducted during 2012. The methodological tools were: tracking and documentary analysis, participant observation and open standardized interviews. RESULTS: Male and female professionals included the gender perspective in a different way, more explicitly in women’s program. There were also differences regarding needs of care and attention related to the gender of users. CONCLUSIONS: It could be possible to address the axes of psychosocial rehabilitation according to Saraceno: house, social network and work. There are significant differences between male and female professionals with regard to these dimension.