Mujeres que se inyectan drogas en Mexicali, Baja California: una mirada desde la autoatención en salud

Abstract

The objective is to analyze self-care practices of women who inject drugs and request harm reduction services in an NGO in Mexicali Baja California. Qualitative methodology was used through participant observation in 2021 and 10 semi-structured interviews in 2023. Results show that women put into practice their knowledge—and others that they have incorporated—when attending harm reduction services, to treat their conditions. Some limitations of the study are related to the field work conditions, as it is still difficult to access the analyzed population. Conclusions indicate that self-care is linked to structural processes such as displacement, stigma and gender, which make seeking professional attention difficult. The participation of this group of women in harm reduction programs has allowed them to adopt self-care practices in favor of their health.