Who do I go to the doctor with? A study with men from the south of São Paulo

Abstract

The aim of the study was to find out with whom men attend health services and who would be the companions. The research scenario was an outpatient clinic located in the south of the city of São Paulo and had the participation of 51 individuals. It was an exploratory and descriptive study, with a quantitative and qualitative approach. Data collection was performed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The numerical data were organized into themes, grouped in tables. The information was analyzed using the Collective Subject Discourse method. The results showed that 65% of men attend the service alone, 27% mentioned the wife, highlighting the existing partnership, 4% mentioned the mother, denoting a maternal bond, and 4% declared the presence of their children. It appears that men have assumed the leading role in their care. Even in the face of incipient work, there is a possibility of change.