Health Equity for Higher Education Students: Issues on Physical Health, Mental Health, and Access to Services

• Grant number: 25/02461-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Jacqueline do S Costa Teixeira Caramori
• Grantee: Eliza Sandoval Vieira Pinto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The construction of a truly inclusive and equitable university in the 21st century is directly associated with the implementation and strengthening of affirmative actions, and it must prioritize the comprehensive health of the academic community, fostering a welcoming and culturally sensitive environment where students from diverse socioeconomic, ethnic-racial, and territorial backgrounds can feel a sense of belonging and fully develop. The investigation of the triad of physical health, mental health, and access to healthcare services is justified by the inseparable relationship between these aspects in promoting the overall well-being of university students. Physical health issues can trigger or exacerbate mental health problems, and vice versa, creating a cycle that significantly affects quality of life and academic performance. Additionally, access to healthcare services is a determining factor in the prevention, early identification, and adequate treatment of both physical and mental conditions. The central hypothesis is that an integrated investigation of physical health, mental health, and access to healthcare services among university students will reveal disparities grounded in social markers, particularly between students admitted through affirmative actions and those admitted through broad competition. The objective is to investigate the conditions of physical health, mental health, and access to healthcare services among higher education students, focusing on the challenges and coping strategies related to the mental health of students admitted through affirmative actions. Specifically, the study aims to map chronic health conditions; evaluate access to and barriers in healthcare services, considering awareness of available services; analyze the impacts of discrimination and racism, recognizing their consequences for mental health; and investigate coping strategies, observing social support, cultural and community resources, self-care practices, and institutional support. The research will be conducted with students enrolled at São Paulo State University, which reserves 50% of its vacancies for affirmative actions. The sampling will be intentional, including participants from different courses, years of study, and socioeconomic contexts to ensure diversity. The study will employ a mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative), with the application of questionnaires to collect data on physical health and experiences of discrimination, and qualitative methods to explore individual and collective experiences. The expected outcomes include a situational assessment of health conditions in this sample, stratified by racial and social groups, and institutional contributions with inputs for the development of care programs and protocols to identify and combat institutional racism. The study aims not only to identify the disparities and challenges faced by university students but also to provide inputs for creating reports that promote a more inclusive and equitable academic environment, ensuring the well-being and retention of all students, especially those admitted through affirmative actions. (AU)