Poverty in Portugal : multidimensional challenges and social work approaches
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Data
2025-03-21
Autores
Marques, Jacqueline
de Almeida, Cristiana Dias
Caetano, Ana Paula
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IntechOpen Books
Resumo
This chapter explores poverty in Portugal through a multidimensional lens, emphasising public perceptions across key domains such as housing, health, energy, transportation, and essential goods. It situates poverty within a broader socioeconomic framework, highlighting the interconnected nature of these dimensions. Data were collected via an online survey between December 2022 and May 2023, targeting 838 participants aged 18 or older residing in Portugal. The survey, disseminated through social networks and community organisations, gathered information on sociodemographic characteristics, employment status, household composition, income, and the perceived effects of rising costs on essential areas. Descriptive statistics summarised respondent profiles, while inferential analyses, including Chi-square tests and Spearman’s correlation, explored associations between variables. The findings reveal significant impacts of rising costs across various domains. Although 62.5% of respondents reported a monthly income equal to or above the national average, 96.7% perceived a decline in purchasing power. Nearly half (48.2%) experienced difficulties in affording energy consumption, while 90% indicated that fuel costs significantly impacted their finances. Regarding food, 96.2% acknowledged price increases, 92.8% altered consumption habits, and 64.2% stopped purchasing certain items. Housing costs were problematic for 41.1% of respondents. In terms of healthcare, 49% of respondents had private health insurance, while 47.7% relied solely on the National Health System, with 21.4% unable to access specialist care. Furthermore, 55.1% of participants attributed psychological or mental health challenges to rising prices and reduced disposable income, highlighting the profound and multifaceted effects of economic pressures on Portuguese households.</jats:p>
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Palavras-chave
SOCIAL WORK, POVERTY, PORTUGAL, SERVIÇO SOCIAL, POBREZA, PORTUGAL
Citação
Marques, J, de Almeida, C D & Caetano, A P 2025, Poverty in Portugal : multidimensional challenges and social work approaches. in Social Work : Making an Impact Around the World . IntechOpen Books. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1009650