Racism, eugenics and sickle cell disease: the case of a population screening program

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29397/reciis.v14i2.1881

Keywords:

Racism, Eugenics, Sickle cell disease, Reproductive rights, Health of the Black population.

Abstract

This article seeks to discuss the relationship between racism and eugenics associated with genetic diseases, specifially with the sickle cell disease, having as reference the case of the Population Screening Program (PTP – Programa de Triagem Populacional), which was planned to be implemented in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and was unsuccessful, since it was inhibited by social movements. A qualitative research was conducted, based on the feminist and anti-racist perspective, which combined document analysis of the program proposal
and in-depth interviews with black women with sickle cell disease in order to understand their perception of the program. The results indicate that the PTP proposal had explicit references to restrictions of the reproductive right of women with sickle cell disease, as well as revealed eugenics besides racist premises. Regarding the perception of the participants of the study, the feeling of indignation prevailed, especially towards the restriction of their reproductive rights. There is a need to eradicate institutional practices that are forged under a cloak of institutional racism producing violence against black bodies.

Author Biographies

Gabriela dos Santos Silva, Universidade Federal da Bahia. Salvador, BA

Mestrado em Saúde Comunitária pela Universidade Federal da Bahia.

Clarice Santos Mota, Universidade Federal da Bahia. Salvador, BA

Doutorado em Ciências Sociais pela Universidade Federal da Bahia.

Leny Alves Bomfim Trad, Universidade Federal da Bahia. Salvador, BA

Doutorado em Ciencias Sociales y Salud pela Universidad de Barcelona.

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Published

2020-06-26

How to Cite

Silva, G. dos S., Mota, C. S., & Alves Bomfim Trad, L. (2020). Racism, eugenics and sickle cell disease: the case of a population screening program. Revista Eletrônica De Comunicação, Informação & Inovação Em Saúde, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.29397/reciis.v14i2.1881

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2020): Dossiê Comunicação e Meio Ambiente

Section

Original articles

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