Representations of COVID-19: the pandemic in the context of international commuting migration from mining

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the conceptions about COVID-19 among Brazilians who carry out commuting to work in clandestine mines located on the borders between Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname. METHOD: This is qualitative research, from an analytical perspective, based on Social Representation Theory. Semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews were carried out with 10 Brazilians who experience work routine in clandestine mining on the border between Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname. RESULTS: Two analytical categories emerged: “The disease of otherness”; and “Health access dimension”. CONCLUSION: Disease severity was attributed to another or a human body organ, and not to individuals as a whole. Access to health services was established on issues of inequity, violence and illegal practices. The nature of a transient population, which carries out commuting and informal and clandestine work, demonstrates vulnerability to COVID-19 and a lower propensity to receive care.