Social vulnerability and Covid-19: considerations based on social occupational therapy

Social occupational therapy has been located throughout history as a subarea that is built in Brazil, mainly on the emergence of studying, researching, and questioning themes related to the social contradictions and injustices of capitalist society, proposing occupational therapy's actions that seek to face them. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the chasms created by these contradictions have become increasingly evident, nationally and globally, given the existing structural inequality. The population in social vulnerability is the most impacted by its effects, given the absence and/or insufficiency of resources, prevention strategies, and/or treatment of the disease in their everyday lives, associated with the difficulties of executing social isolation, maintaining employment, and income, as well as less access to health and basic sanitation. Given this, it is understood that macrosocial issues are directly related to the development of the disease and the way it affects different groups. In this way, it is emphasized the importance of the contributions of occupational social therapy, within the scope of research and/or intervention, based on thinking/doing that embraces the wants and needs of individuals and groups, which problematizes the impacts of structural inequalities in everyday life, what strengthens life-affirming movements, autonomy, citizenship, and rights. Finally, promoting strategies for equality and recognition, in the democratization of the possibilities of continuing life in the pandemic and beyond.