“<i>That is somebody's husband</i>”: Face-saving Strategies in Doctor–Patient Interaction in a Public Health Facility in Kenya

This study examines face-work and politeness strategies during interactions between a female doctor and two male patients presenting with sexual and reproductive health issues at a public hospital in Kenya. Grounded in the conceptual frameworks of face-work and politeness, this study explores how face-saving and face-threatening acts are managed in medical encounters. It considers the cultural and gendered aspects of politeness in these interactions. The analysis of the qualitative data collected through recordings, participant observation, and a follow-up interview with the doctor has led to the following findings. The doctor uses indirect language and culturally sensitive communication to preserve the male patients' positive face, particularly around stigmatized issues such as sexually transmitted infections. The male patients employ defensive face-work to maintain their social image and masculinity. This study sheds light on the power dynamics, politeness strategies, and cultural norms that shape doctor-patient interactions in reproductive health settings, contributing to a deeper understanding of gendered communication in healthcare.