EXPERIENCES OF DISCRIMINATION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM SOUTHERN BRAZIL: WHO, WHERE AND HOW MUCH?

INTRODUCTION: In Brazil, discrimination manifests itself either explicitly or subtly and ambiguously, and is motivated by multiple social, economic, demographic and cultural characteristics. In addition to being related to adverse physical and mental health outcomes, discrimination is regarded as an important driver of social inequalities in the country. This study aims to investigate experiences of discrimination reported by Brazilian undergraduate students.

METHODS: A representative sample of 1,264 students from the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil, answered a self-administered questionnaire in 2012, which addressed the frequency of discriminatory experiences, their domains of occurrence and their motivations, as well as data on undergraduate course, age, sex, skin color/race, socioeconomic status and access to the institution through affirmative action. Absolute and relative frequencies of the sample’s characteristics were estimated and the frequencies of discrimination were calculated, with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS: The response rate was 81.0%; participants’ age ranged from 16 to 52 years. The overall frequency of reported discrimination was 65.8% (CI95% 58.7; 68.2). Higher frequencies of discrimination were reported by History, Pedagogy and Psychology students. Older individuals, women, those of lower socioeconomic status, self-reported yellows, blacks and browns and those admitted to the institution through affirmative action presented higher frequencies of discrimination. The most frequently reported reasons for discrimination were specific type of behaviour/habit, age and the way one dresses, which were simultaneously referred to by a significant proportion of respondents. To be labelled with pejorative terms, to be excluded by school/university peers, to be treated in an inferior manner in shops and to be deemed unable to perform activities at school/university were the most frequent types of discrimination.

CONCLUSIONS: These results should be used for planning actions aimed at monitoring and reducing discrimination and its related social inequites in health.