Social representations of dengue: reflections on the mediation of information in public health

Abstract

The objective of this research was to provide elements for the debate about the relationship between public health, media and the formulation and dissemination of health information for citizens. The research focus is the dissemination of information about the epidemic of dengue in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Social Representations Theory was used as the main reference for the study, in order to to capture the population's imaginary about the disease. Questionnaires were used and data treated sing the Collective Subject Discourse (CSD), a method for organization and tabulation of qualitative verbal data. Data were contextualized and analyzed with references to some theories of reflexivity,, epidemiological risk and Information Society. It is noted, finally, the importance of mediators to carry this process and provide mediations about health, particularly on dengue fever.