Repercussions of Covid-19: dialogues whit university students experiencing chronic conditions

Abstract

This is a qualitative research, of the action-participant type, based on the theoretical assumptions of Health Promotion, which used the Research Itinerary proposed based on Paulo Freire's Culture Circle. It aimed to understand the perception of university students with chronic health conditions about the repercussions of the covid-19 pandemic. Nine students from a public university in southern Brazil, aged between 19 and 37, who lived with a chronic health condition, participated. Two Culture Circles of approximately 60 minutes each were held, following the steps: thematic investigation; codification and decoding and critical unveiling. Three generating themes emerged: negative repercussions of the pandemic; positive repercussions; and post-pandemic repercussions. As negative repercussions, they pointed out uncertainty, impotence, fear, insufficiency, change, indifference and anxiety, all related to the chronic condition, social isolation and changes in routine. The positive repercussions turned to the possibility of spending more time with the family and rethinking life habits. The post-pandemic repercussions were related to the return to face-to-face classes, more time dedicated to graduation, better anxiety control, greater use of electronic devices, lack of physical activity, greater consumption of medication and improved diet. This study allowed university students to have a space for exchanging experiences with other students who went through similar situations. With this, it was also possible to identify the repercussions of the post-pandemic period on this specific public, enabling new studies and new future interventions.