Abstract

LOPEZ PACHECO, Marcela  and  LOPEZ SANCHEZ, Oliva. “She got sick and the whole family got sick, we all collapsed”: Caring for the Ill and Impacts on the Health of Mother-Caregivers. Rev. interdiscip. estud. género Col. Méx. [online]. 2023, vol.9, e987.  Epub Sep 25, 2023. ISSN 2395-9185.  https://doi.org/10.24201/reg.v9i1.987.

Women are traditionally responsible for families’ well-being and healthcare, as part of their maternal role. Providing care and the necessary support to those in need takes a daily physical and emotional toll on the health of caregivers, who are usually made invisible within society. This article examines this impact on mothers who are caregivers for daughters suffering various chronic-degenerative, immunological and neurological conditions following the application of the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV). Given COVID-19 lockdowns and the limited physical contact, we opted for a qualitative analysis that included an observation of the contents and publication on the Facebook profile Afectadas México Vacuna Papiloma Humano, as well as face-to-face and online interviews with ten mothers-caregivers. Based on the ethics of care, the findings revealed neglect that has led to caregivers developing acute depression, becoming overweight, and suffering from altered sleep cycles as well as other major physical and mental disorders that challenge them as a result of their work.

Keywords : maternity and health; ethics of care; affectivity; vaccinations; health aspects.

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