Dual practices of the institutional social work role: a hospital ethnographic study

Introduction: Social work plays an important role within hospital institutions and has had a diverse professional development in the world. Objective:To analyze the role of social workers in a public specialized care hospital in Mexico City.Methods: This is a qualitative study based on a hospital ethnography with semi-structured interviews, non-participant observations, and a review of historical data on this professional activity in Mexico.Atlas.tisoftware was used for coding and subsequent interpretative analysis from medical anthropology.Results: The activities of 17 social workers were observed.Three important themes were identified: social work functions, staff working conditions, and participation with the health team.The work dynamics reflect traditional models of intervention in the relationship with the hospital institution, with other health professionals and patients; these dynamics are in the process of transformation.There is evidence of duality in the professional practice, with a high administrative burden that affects their role to intervene in the social problems of patients.Conclusions: Social work is a central activity to overcome the socioeconomic barriers that patients may have in accessing care.In this way, it would contribute to mitigating the social inequalities and inequities in the health of the population served.