Salute e malattia ai margini della società: uno studio qualitativo sui Senza Dimora

Homelessness is an increasing phenomenon and it represents a growing social problem. Homeless people live at the margin of society and they experience poorer health level and little is known about the health care use. The objective of this research is to explore and to understand the perspective of this population about their health status and health care use. A qualitative phenomenological research design is used. Eight interviews were conducted in a day centre for homeless people called “La Bussola”. The research also includes a descriptive retrospective data analysis conducted on a sample of date held by the NGO “Emergency” of Marghera (VE). Three major themes were identified: 1) “perception and management of health”; 2) “Relationship with health services”; 3) “Relationship between street life and health. Homeless people suffer of multiple kind of morbidity: diseases of the digestive system (ICD 10, sector 11), diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (ICD 10, sector 13) and diseases of the circulatory system (ICD10, sector 9) are the most common diagnosis founded by the analysis. Homeless people have numerous health needs unanswered. The social conditions and the street life profoundly modify the lifestyle. The health could be the first step to create a relationship with this kind of population, and to improve their social condition in a better way.