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Shah B, Mahapatra A, Singh UN, Mishra V, Daha SK, Pande R, Neupane MR, Banjade A, Khatik CB, K. C. TB, Mandal RK, Pokharel S, Gupta R, G. C. KB. Internalized stigma related to COVID-19 and its psychosocial and mental health correlates: a multicentric health facility based observational study from Nepal. Front Psychiatry 2024; 14:1276369. [PMID: 38419690 PMCID: PMC10900515 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1276369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has led to physical and psychological complications and social consequences in the form of illness-related stigma. This study aimed (1) to assess the sociodemographic and clinical variable, as well as COVID-19 related knowledge and perception of persons admitted for COVID-19/Suspected COVID-19 in Nepal, (2) to determine their levels of COVID-19- related internalized stigma, depression, and anxiety symptoms, and (3) to evaluate the correlates of COVID-19- related internalized stigma. Materials and methods It was a cross-sectional exploratory study with a convenience sample of 395 participants (306 confirmed cases, 89 suspected cases) conducted between July-October 2020 in four health facilities in Madhesh and Lumbini provinces of Nepal. We used a semi-structured questionnaire to assess sociodemographic details, clinical information, COVID-19-related knowledge, perception, COVID-19-related internalized stigma, and the Hamilton Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) in Nepali language. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and linear regression analyses were performed. The level of statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. Results Around 23.3% of the patients had anxiety symptoms, 32.9% had depressive symptoms, and 20.3% had high COVID-19-related internalized stigma (mean ISMI score: 2.51-4.00). Linear regression analyses showed a significant positive association of COVID-19-related internalized stigma total score, with the following eight factors, i.e., no income in the past one month (p = 0.013), below average socioeconomic status (p = 0.004), anxiety symptoms (p = <0.001), depressive symptoms (p = <0.001), recent testing positive for COVID-19 (p = <0.001), involuntary admission (p = <0.001), prior experience of being in isolation and quarantine (p = 0.045), and those who blame others for COVID-19 (p = 0.025). Conclusion COVID-19 survivors and suspects are vulnerable to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and COVID-19-related internalized stigma. For the first time from Nepal, our data suggests that COVID-19-related internalized stigma is associated with anxiety and depression symptoms, perceived below-average socioeconomic status, involuntary admission, prior experience of being in isolation and quarantine, recent COVID-19 positive report, self-blame, below-average socioeconomic status and no income in the past one month. Mitigating and preventing internalized stigma associated with a public health crisis such as COVID-19 is imperative by diagnosing and treating such mental health issues early and designing interventions and policies especially targeting vulnerable populations focusing on their economic background and socio-cultural beliefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bigya Shah
- Department of Psychiatry, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Patan Hospital, Patan, Nepal
| | - Ananya Mahapatra
- Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital and Medical College, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Vilok Mishra
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj, Nepal
| | | | - Rajan Pande
- Department of Internal Medicine, Bheri Hospital, Nepalgunj, Nepal
| | | | - Anita Banjade
- Department of Pediatrics, Suny downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | | | | | | | - Samjhana Pokharel
- Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), Jagaran Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | - Krishna Bahadur G. C.
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Patan Hospital, Patan, Nepal
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Paterson A, Olliaro PL, Rojek A. Addressing stigma in infectious disease outbreaks: a crucial step in pandemic preparedness. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1303679. [PMID: 38186713 PMCID: PMC10768929 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1303679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
There is a complex interplay between infectious disease outbreaks and the stigmatization of affected persons and communities. Outbreaks are prone to precipitating stigma due to the fear, uncertainty, moralisation, and abatement of freedoms associated with many infectious diseases. In turn, this stigma hampers outbreak control efforts. Understanding this relationship is crucial to improving coordinated outbreak response. This requires valid and reliable methods for assessing stigma towards and within impacted communities. We propose adopting a cross-outbreak model for developing the necessary assessment tools. A stigma-informed approach must then be integrated into outbreak preparedness and response efforts to safeguard public health and promote inclusivity and compassion in future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Paterson
- Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Piero L. Olliaro
- Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda Rojek
- Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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SeyedAlinaghi S, Afsahi AM, Shahidi R, Afzalian A, Mirzapour P, Eslami M, Ahmadi S, Matini P, Yarmohammadi S, Saeed Tamehri Zadeh S, Asili P, Paranjkhoo P, Ramezani M, Nooralioghli Parikhani S, Sanaati F, Amiri Fard I, Emamgholizade Baboli E, Mansouri S, Pashaei A, Mehraeen E, Hackett D. Social stigma during COVID-19: A systematic review. SAGE Open Med 2023; 11:20503121231208273. [PMID: 38020797 PMCID: PMC10640804 DOI: 10.1177/20503121231208273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Stigmatization was reported throughout the COVID pandemic for COVID-19 patients and close contacts. The aim of this systematic review was to comprehensively examine the prevalence and impact of stigmatization during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods English articles were searched using online databases that included PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science up to 24 August 2022. A two-step screening and selection process was followed utilizing an inclusion and exclusion criteria and then data was extracted from eligible articles. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist was followed, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results Seventy-six studies were eligible for inclusion. Twenty-two studies reported the prevalence of social stigma due to COVID-19 infection with social isolation being the most commonly reported stigma. There were 20 studies that reported the majority of participants experienced stigma due to COVID-19 infection, which was as high as 100% of participants in two studies. Participants in 16 studies reported blaming from others as the second most common type of stigma, with various other types reported such as psychological pressure, verbal violence, avoidance, and labeling. The most common effect of the stigma was anxiety followed by depression, and then reduction of socialization. Conclusion Findings from the present review have identified that COVID-19-related stigma studies have generally focused on its prevalence, type, and outcome. Greater awareness of this topic may assist with improving public education during pandemics such as COVID-19 as well as access to support services for individuals impacted by stigmatization.
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Affiliation(s)
- SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Masoud Afsahi
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ramin Shahidi
- School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Arian Afzalian
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pegah Mirzapour
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Eslami
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sepide Ahmadi
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parisa Matini
- School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Seyed Saeed Tamehri Zadeh
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pooria Asili
- Department of Pathology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parinaz Paranjkhoo
- Turpanjian College of Health Sciences, American University of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Maryam Ramezani
- Department of Health Management, Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Foziye Sanaati
- School of Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Iman Amiri Fard
- Department of Community Health Nursing and Geriatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Emamgholizade Baboli
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Somaye Mansouri
- Department of Management, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Ava Pashaei
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Esmaeil Mehraeen
- Department of Health Information Technology, Khalkhal University of Medical Sciences, Khalkhal, Iran
| | - Daniel Hackett
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Physical Activity, Lifestyle, Ageing and Wellbeing Faculty Research Group, School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Techapoonpon K, Kerdchareon N, Polruamngern N, Chalermrungroj T, Srikhamdokkhae O, Matangkarat P. Stigma Experienced by Patients Who Recovered from COVID-19 in Post-Vaccination Period in Thailand; Prevalence and Associated Factors. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:3561-3571. [PMID: 37675190 PMCID: PMC10478950 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s425537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Social stigma related to coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has been a public concern since its emergence, especially in the patients who are reintegrating into their society. However, the insights into COVID-19 stigmatization after vaccine availability are limited. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, severity and associated factors of stigma experienced by patients who recovered from COVID-19 and reintegrated into their communities. The insights gained from this study are not only beneficial to COVID-19 but can also be used as a background information in future epidemics. Patients and Methods This study consisted of two phases. The first phase involved the translation and validation of the COVID-19-related stigma questionnaire. The second phase was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey conducted between January and February 2022, at the Vajira Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. A series of questionnaires regarding stigma, negative emotions (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21), and personal information were administered to COVID-19 patients who were already discharged and returned to their communities from June 2021 to February 28, 2022 (N = 354). Results The prevalence of stigma among the patients who recovered from COVID-19 was 57.9%. These were classified as mild (28.2%), moderate (21.5%), and severe (8.2%). Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that longer admissions (r = - 0.151, p = 0.001) and longer duration from discharge (r = - 0.222, p = 0.001) were related to lower stigma. Higher stigma was associated with higher levels of depression (r = 0.528, p <0.001), anxiety (r = 0.506, p <0.001) and stress (r = 0.583, p <0.001). Conclusion Social stigma related to COVID-19 in Thailand declined during the post-vaccination period. However, this issue did not disappear, and still took a toll on mental health. Our findings suggested that providing appropriate assessment and help to the patients who recovered from COVID-19 is essential, even in the post-vaccination period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamolvisa Techapoonpon
- Department of Psychiatry, Navamindradhiraj University, Vajira Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nitchawan Kerdchareon
- Department of Psychiatry, Navamindradhiraj University, Vajira Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nongnuch Polruamngern
- Department of Psychiatry, Navamindradhiraj University, Vajira Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Orranee Srikhamdokkhae
- Department of Psychiatry, Navamindradhiraj University, Vajira Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Premyuda Matangkarat
- Department of Psychiatry, Navamindradhiraj University, Vajira Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
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Stephen A, Nair S, Joshi A, Aggarwal S, Adhikari T, Diwan V, Devi KR, Mishra BK, Yadav GK, Sahu D, Gulati BK, Sharma S, Yadav J, Ovung S, Duggal C, Sharma M, Bangar SD, Rebecca PB, Rani S, Selvaraj P, Xavier GG, Peter V, Watson B, Kannan T, Asmathulla KSMD, Bhattacharya D, Turuk J, Palo SK, Kanungo S, Behera AK, Pandey AK, Zaman K, Misra B, Kumar N, Behera S, Singh R, Narain K, Kant R, Sahay S, Tiwari R, Thomas BE, Karikalan N, Panda S, Vardhana Rao MV, Ujagare D, Chinchore S. Gender differences in COVID-19 knowledge, risk perception, and public stigma among the general community: Findings from a nationwide cross-sectional study in India. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION : IJDRR 2023; 93:103776. [PMID: 37303828 PMCID: PMC10229202 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Individual and community characteristics predictive of knowledge, perception, and attitude on COVID-19, specifically on gender, have not been adequately explored. Objective To examine the gender differences in COVID-19 knowledge, self-risk perception and public stigma among the general community and to understand other socio-demographic factors which were predictive of them. Method A nationally representative cross-sectional multi-centric survey was conducted among adult individuals(≥18 yrs) from the community member (N = 1978) from six states and one union territory of India between August 2020 to February 2021. The participants were selected using systematic random sampling. The data were collected telephonically using pilot-tested structured questionnaires and were analyzed using STATA. Gender-segregated multivariable analysis was conducted to identify statistically significant predictors (p < 0.05) of COVID-19-related knowledge, risk perception, and public stigma in the community. Results Study identified significant differences between males and females in their self-risk perception (22.0% & 18.2% respectively) and stigmatizing attitude (55.3% & 47.1% respectively). Highly educated males and females had higher odds of having COVID-19 knowledge (aOR: 16.83: p < 0.05) than illiterates. Highly educated women had higher odds of having self-risk perception (aOR: 2.6; p < 0.05) but lower public stigma [aOR: 0.57; p < 0.05]. Male rural residents had lower odds of having self-risk perception and knowledge [aOR: 0.55; p < 0.05 & aOR: 0.72; p < 0.05] and female rural residents had higher odds of having public stigma [aOR: 1.36; p < 0.05]. Conclusion Our study findings suggest the importance of considering thegender differentials and their background, education status and residential status in designing effective interventions to improve knowledge and reduce risk perception and stigma in the community about COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Stephen
- Department of Social and Behavioral Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, India
| | - Saritha Nair
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Aparna Joshi
- School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India
| | - Sumit Aggarwal
- Division of Epidemiology & Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Tulsi Adhikari
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Vishal Diwan
- Division of Environmental Monitoring & Exposure Assessment (Water & Soil), ICMR- National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, India
| | - Kangjam Rekha Devi
- Divison of Enteric Disease, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region, Dibrugarh, Assam, India
| | - Bijaya Kumar Mishra
- Department of Medical, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | | | - Damodar Sahu
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Bal Kishan Gulati
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Saurabh Sharma
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Jeetendra Yadav
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Senthanro Ovung
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Chetna Duggal
- School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India
| | - Moina Sharma
- Department of Environmental Health & Epidemiology, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, India
| | - Sampada Dipak Bangar
- Divisions of Epidemiology and Statistics, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Pricilla B Rebecca
- Department of Social and Behavioral Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, India
| | - S Rani
- Department of Social and Behavioral Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, India
| | - Pradeep Selvaraj
- Office of District Non-Communicable Disease, Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Chennai, India
| | | | - Vanessa Peter
- Informational & Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities, Chennai, India
| | - Basilea Watson
- Electronic Data Processing Unit, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, India
| | - T Kannan
- Electronic Data Processing Unit, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, India
- Epidemiology and Statistics Unit, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, India
| | - K S M D Asmathulla
- Integrated People Development Project Trust, Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Debdutta Bhattacharya
- Department of Microbiology, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Jyotirmayee Turuk
- Department of Microbiology, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Subrata Kumar Palo
- Department of Microbiology, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
- Department of Epidemiology, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Srikanta Kanungo
- Department of Microbiology, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
- Department of Epidemiology, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Ajit Kumar Behera
- Department of Clinical, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | | | - Kamran Zaman
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - BrijRanjan Misra
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Niraj Kumar
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | - Rajeev Singh
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Kanwar Narain
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region, Dibrugarh, Assam, India
| | - Rajni Kant
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Research Management, Policy, Planning and Coordination Cell, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Seema Sahay
- Social &Behavioral Research, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | | | - Beena Elizabeth Thomas
- Department of Social and Behavioral Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, India
| | - N Karikalan
- Department of Social and Behavioral Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, India
| | - Samiran Panda
- Division of Epidemiology & Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - M Vishnu Vardhana Rao
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Dhammsagar Ujagare
- Social &Behavioral Research, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sneha Chinchore
- Social &Behavioral Research, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India
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Asare IT, Douglas M, Kye-Duodu G, Manu E. Challenges and opportunities for improved contact tracing in Ghana: experiences from Coronavirus disease-2019-related contact tracing in the Bono region. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:335. [PMID: 37202733 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08317-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Ghana, contact tracing received heightened attention in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic during its peak period. Despite the successes achieved, numerous challenges continue to limit the efforts of contact tracing in completely curtailing the effect of the pandemic. Despite these challenges, there are still opportunities that could be harnessed from the COVID-19 contact tracing experience for future eventualities. This study thus identified the challenges and opportunities associated with COVID-19 contact tracing in the Bono Region of Ghana. METHODS Using a focus group discussion (FGD) approach, an exploratory qualitative design was conducted in six selected districts of the Bono region of Ghana in this study. The purposeful sampling technique was employed to recruit 39 contact tracers who were grouped into six focus groups. A thematic content analysis approach via ATLAS ti version 9.0 software was used to analyse the data and presented under two broad themes. RESULTS The discussants reported twelve (12) challenges that hindered effective contact tracing in the Bono region. These include inadequate personal protective equipment, harassment by contacts, politicisation of the discourse around the disease, stigmatization, delays in processing test results, poor remuneration and lack of insurance package, inadequate staffing, difficulty in locating contacts, poor quarantine practices, poor education on COVID-19, language barrier and transportation challenges. Opportunities for improving contact tracing include cooperation, awareness creation, leveraging on knowledge gained in contact tracing, and effective emergency plans for future pandemics. CONCLUSION There is a need for health authorities, particularly in the region, and the state as a whole to address contact tracing-related challenges while simultaneously harnessing the recommended opportunities for improved contact tracing in the future for effective pandemic control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Tachie Asare
- Department of Population and Behavioural Sciences, Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
| | - Mbuyiselo Douglas
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Private Bag X1, Mthatha, 5117, South Africa
| | - Gideon Kye-Duodu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Manu
- Department of Population and Behavioural Sciences, Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana.
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Ddungu C, Manirankunda L, Meudec M, Van Landeghem E, Vanhamel J, Katsuva D, Nöstlinger C. Sub-Saharan African communities' experiences and engagement with COVID-19 and the related control strategies in Antwerp, Belgium. Int J Equity Health 2023; 22:53. [PMID: 36978176 PMCID: PMC10047455 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-01867-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pre-existing racial/ethnic disparities in health, sustained by intersecting socio-economic and structural inequities, have widened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, little attention has been paid to the lived experiences of people in ethnic/racialised minority communities, and to the causes and effects underlying the COVID-19-related burden. This hinders tailored responses. This study explores Sub-Saharan African (SSA) communities' needs, perceptions, and experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and its control measures in Antwerp (Belgium) in 2020. METHODS This qualitative study using an interpretative ethnographical approach adopted an iterative and participatory methodology: a community advisory board advised on all stages of the research process. Interviews and a group discussion were conducted online, through telephone, and face-to-face. We analysed the data inductively using a thematic analytical approach. RESULTS Our respondents, who mostly used social media for information, struggled with misinformation about the new virus and prevention measures. They reported to be vulnerable to misinformation about the origin of the pandemic, risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2, and the prevention measures. Not only did the epidemic affect SSA communities, but to a larger extent, the control strategies did-especially the lockdown. Respondents perceived the interaction of social factors (i.e. being migrants, being undocumented, having experienced racism and discrimination) and economic factors (i.e. working in temporary and precarious jobs, not being able to apply for unemployment benefit, crowded housing conditions) as increasing the burden of COVID-19 control measures. In turn, these experiences influenced people's perceptions and attitudes, and may have partially impaired them to follow some public health COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Despite these challenges, communities developed bottom-up initiatives to react quickly to the epidemic, including translation of prevention messages, food distribution, and online spiritual support. CONCLUSION Pre-existing disparities influenced the perceptions of and attitudes towards COVID-19 and its control strategies among SSA communities. To better design support and control strategies targeted to specific groups, we need to not only involve communities and address their specific needs and concerns, but also build on their strengths and resilience. This will remain important in the context of widening disparities and future epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Ddungu
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Lazare Manirankunda
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marie Meudec
- Outbreak Research Team, Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Ella Van Landeghem
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jef Vanhamel
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Deogratias Katsuva
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christiana Nöstlinger
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Zay Hta MK, Ting RSK, Goh PH, Gan QH, Jones L. A systematic review on the cultural factors associated with stigma during pandemics. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2023:1-32. [PMID: 37359581 PMCID: PMC10016190 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-023-04509-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Both public stigma and perceived self-stigma are prevalent during pandemics threatening a divide among the global community. This systematic review examined the cultural factors associated with viral respiratory-related pandemic stigma. Following PRISMA guidelines, the keywords, "culture, stigma, and pandemic" were searched across relevant databases for empirical papers between January 2000 to March 2022. Quality assessment and coding were adopted in the screening process. Thirty-one articles were included in the final analysis. Themes revealed that collectivistic values, cultural identities, and non-western regions were associated with public (others) stigma; mismatch of cultural values, minority groups, and North America, Asia, Oceania, and African regions were associated with higher perceived and self-stigma. We further mapped the themes into a proposed systemic cultural stigma model to integrate the dynamic intersection of cultural values, identity, and ecology. The cultural factors and their influence on stigma were then explained by drawing on two evolutionary theories: Cultural rationality theory and scapegoating theory. Lastly, we proposed culturally sensitive and responsive practices for stigma management at the community level, especially in non-Western regions during the pandemic recovery phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- May Kyi Zay Hta
- Department of Psychology, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rachel Sing-Kiat Ting
- Department of Psychology, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Pei Hwa Goh
- Department of Psychology, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Qian Hui Gan
- Department of Psychology, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Liz Jones
- Department of Psychology, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Selangor, Malaysia
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Bisenius S, Treml J, Hanschmidt F, Kersting A. Stigmatization profiles and psychological distress in people at high risk of infection with COVID-19 -A study conducted in Germany from March to August 2021. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285788. [PMID: 37200379 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19-related stigmatization of affected people or people at risk of infection has been shown to enhance the reluctance of affected individuals to use health services and reduce their mental health. It is thus highly important to gain a thorough understanding of COVID-19-related stigmatization. The present study's first aim was to explore stigmatization profiles of experienced stigmatization (anticipated stigmatization, internalized stigmatization, enacted stigmatization, disclosure concerns) and stigmatization practices in 371 German people at high risk of infection using latent class analyses. The second aim was to investigate the relationship between stigmatization profiles and psychological distress via multiple regression analysis taking into account other possible negative and positive risk factors. Our results showed two stigmatization profiles: "high stigmatization group" and "low stigmatization group". Belonging to the "high stigmatization group" was significantly correlated with higher levels of psychological distress. Other risk factors significantly related to psychological distress were mental health disorders in the past, exposure to COVID-19, fear related to COVID-19, perceived risk of being infected, lower perceived self-efficacy, and lower subjective knowledge about COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandrine Bisenius
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
| | - Julia Treml
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
| | - Franz Hanschmidt
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
| | - Anette Kersting
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
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SeyedAlinaghi S, Mirzapour P, Mehraeen E, Hackett D. The Psychological, Philosophical, and Political Implications of COVID-19. Infect Disord Drug Targets 2023; 23:e280323215058. [PMID: 37018529 DOI: 10.2174/1871526523666230328124553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pegah Mirzapour
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Esmaeil Mehraeen
- Department of Health Information Technology, Khalkhal University of Medical Sciences, Khalkhal, Iran
| | - Daniel Hackett
- Physical Activity, Lifestyle, Ageing and Wellbeing Faculty Research Group, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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11
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Mazhari S, Sabahi A, Gilanipour H, Keshvardoost S. Agreement for diagnosis of depression and anxiety between self-assessment with e-questionnaire and psychiatric telephone interview among post-COVID-19 patients. JOURNAL OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH PROMOTION 2022; 11:413. [PMID: 36824097 PMCID: PMC9942144 DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_1519_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety, are common among individuals who have experienced coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, diagnosis may be challenging and subjected to invalidity. This study aimed to examine agreement between online self-assessment and psychiatric telephone interview among COVID-19 survivors. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out from March to June 2021 in Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman, Iran. The inpatients confirmed with COVID-19 were contacted within the first week after discharge and were asked to fill the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) and socio-demography questionnaire. They were later interviewed using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Agreement between the data extracted from self-report and telephone interview was analyzed using Cohen's kappa coefficient, sensitivity, and specificity. RESULTS Out of 200 post-COVID patients, 60 participants completed all assessments. Prevalence of depression was observed to be 88% via telephone interview and 45% via self-assessment. Moreover, 83% of the participants were diagnosed with anxiety according to the telephone interview, in comparison to 31% diagnosed with anxiety using self-report questionnaire. The agreement between online self-assessment and telephone interview for depression and anxiety was not significant (κ = 0.08 and κ = 0.1, respectively). CONCLUSION The discordance between online self-report and clinician's assessment via phone contact interview indicates that using self-report evaluations is not sufficient as the single assessment tool for mental health monitoring and reflects the need to employ multiple assessments for diagnosis of psychiatric problems in pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahrzad Mazhari
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Psychiatry, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Abdolreza Sabahi
- Department of Psychiatry, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Hoda Gilanipour
- Department of Psychiatry, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Sareh Keshvardoost
- Medical Informatics Research Center, Institute for Future Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Zhou X, Chen C, Yao Y, Xia J, Cao L, Qin X. The scar that takes time to heal: A systematic review of COVID-19-related stigma targets, antecedents, and outcomes. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1026712. [PMID: 36533056 PMCID: PMC9752089 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1026712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19, as a crucial public health crisis, has affected our lives in nearly every aspect. Besides its major health threats, COVID-19 brings severe secondary impacts, one of which is the rise of social stigma. Although numerous studies have examined the antecedents and outcomes of COVID-19-related stigma, we still lack a systematic understanding of who is being stigmatized during the COVID-19 pandemic, what exacerbates COVID-19-related stigma, and what impacts COVID-19-related stigma has on victims. Therefore, this review aims to provide a systematic overview of COVID-19-related stigma. With 93 papers conducted with 126,371 individuals in more than 150 countries and territories spanning five continents, we identify three targets that have received the most research: Chinese/Asian people, (suspected) patients and survivors, and healthcare workers. Furthermore, we find that for each stigma target, characteristics of the stigmatized, stigmatizer, and context contribute to COVID-19-related stigma and that this stigma negatively influences victims' health and non-health outcomes. We call for future research to provide a more integrative, balanced, and rigorous picture of COVID-19-related stigma via conducting research on neglected topics (e.g., contextual factors that contribute to stigma toward HCWs) and stigma interventions and using a longitudinal design. In practice, we urge governments and institutions (e.g., ministries of public health, hospitals) to pay close attention to stigma issues and to promote safe and inclusive societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Zhou
- Department of Business Administration, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Business Administration, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuewei Yao
- Department of Business Administration, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingtian Xia
- Department of Business Administration, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Limei Cao
- Department of Business Administration, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Qin
- Department of Business Administration, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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13
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Adhikari T, Aggarwal S, Nair S, Joshi A, Diwan V, Stephen A, Devi KR, Kumar Mishra B, Yadav GK, Bangar SD, Sahu D, Yadav J, Ovung S, Gulati BK, Sharma S, Singh C, Duggal C, Sharma M, Ujagare D, Padmakar Chinchore S, Rebecca PB, Rani S, Selvaraj P, Xavier GG, Peter V, Watson B, Kannan T, Asmathulla KSM, Bhattacharya D, Turuk J, Palo SK, Kanungo S, Kumar Behera A, Pandey AK, Zaman K, Misra BR, Kumar N, Behera SP, Singh R, Narain K, Kant R, Sahay S, Tiwari RR, Thomas BE, Rao MVV. Factors associated with COVID-19 stigma during the onset of the global pandemic in India: A cross-sectional study. Front Public Health 2022; 10:992046. [PMID: 36311615 PMCID: PMC9615248 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.992046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To assess factors associated with COVID-19 stigmatizing attitudes in the community and stigma experiences of COVID-19 recovered individuals during first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 18 districts located in 7 States in India during September 2020 to January 2021 among adults > 18 years of age selected through systematic random sampling. Data on socio demographic and COVID-19 knowledge were collected from 303 COVID-19 recovered and 1,976 non-COVID-19 infected individuals from community using a survey questionnaire. Stigma was assessed using COVID-19 Stigma Scale and Community COVID-19 Stigma Scale developed for the study. Informed consent was sought from the participants. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis were conducted. Results Half of the participants (51.3%) from the community reported prevalence of severe stigmatizing attitudes toward COVID-19 infected while 38.6% of COVID-19 recovered participants reported experiencing severe stigma. Participants from the community were more likely to report stigmatizing attitudes toward COVID-19 infected if they were residents of high prevalent COVID-19 zone (AOR: 1.5; CI: 1.2-1.9), staying in rural areas (AOR: 1.5; CI:1.1-1.9), belonged to the age group of 18-30 years (AOR: 1.6; CI 1.2-2.0), were male (AOR: 1.6; CI: 1.3-1.9), illiterate (AOR: 2.7; CI: 1.8-4.2), or living in Maharashtra (AOR: 7.4; CI: 4.8-11.3). COVID-19 recovered participants had higher odds of experiencing stigma if they had poor knowledge about COVID-19 transmission (AOR: 2.8; CI: 1.3-6.3), were staying for 6-15 years (AOR: 3.24; CI: 1.1-9.4) in the current place of residence or belonged to Delhi (AOR: 5.3; CI: 1.04-26.7). Conclusion Findings indicated presence of stigmatizing attitudes in the community as well as experienced stigma among COVID-19 recovered across selected study sites in India during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Study recommends timely dissemination of factual information to populations vulnerable to misinformation and psychosocial interventions for individuals affected by stigma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tulsi Adhikari
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, New Delhi, India
| | - Sumit Aggarwal
- Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases (ECD), Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Saritha Nair
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, New Delhi, India,*Correspondence: Saritha Nair
| | - Aparna Joshi
- School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Vishal Diwan
- Division of Environmental Monitoring and Exposure Assessment (Water and Soil), ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - A. Stephen
- Department of Social and Behavioral Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - K. Rekha Devi
- Enteric Disease Division, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Center, NE Region, Dibrugarh, Assam, India
| | - Bijaya Kumar Mishra
- Medical Department, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Center, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | | | - Sampada Dipak Bangar
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Damodar Sahu
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, New Delhi, India
| | - Jeetendra Yadav
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, New Delhi, India
| | - Senthanro Ovung
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Saurabh Sharma
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, New Delhi, India
| | - Charan Singh
- ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, New Delhi, India
| | - Chetna Duggal
- School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Moina Sharma
- Department of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Dhammasagar Ujagare
- Division of Social and Behavioral Research, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sneha Padmakar Chinchore
- Division of Social and Behavioral Research, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Pricilla B. Rebecca
- Department of Social and Behavioral Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S. Rani
- Department of Social and Behavioral Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Pradeep Selvaraj
- Office of District Non-Communicable Disease, Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Vanessa Peter
- Information and Resource Center for the Deprived Urban Communities, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Basilea Watson
- Electronic Data Processing Unit (EDP), ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - T. Kannan
- Epidemiology Statistics Unit, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Debdutta Bhattacharya
- Department of Microbiology, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Center, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Jyotirmayee Turuk
- Department of Microbiology, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Center, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Subrata Kumar Palo
- Department of Epidemiology, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Center, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Srikanta Kanungo
- Department of Epidemiology, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Center, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Ajit Kumar Behera
- Clinical Department, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Center, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | | | - Kamran Zaman
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Center, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Brij Ranjan Misra
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Center, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Niraj Kumar
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Center, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | - Rajeev Singh
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Center, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Kanwar Narain
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Center, NE Region, Dibrugarh, Assam, India
| | - Rajni Kant
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Center, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India,Research Management, Policy, Planning and Coordination Cell, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Seema Sahay
- Division of Social and Behavioral Research, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Rajnarayan R. Tiwari
- ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Beena Elizabeth Thomas
- Department of Social and Behavioral Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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Kibria MG, Islam T, Islam MT, Kabir R, Ahmed S, Sultana P. Stigma and its associated factors among patients with COVID-19 in Dhaka City: evidence from a cross-sectional investigation. PeerJ 2022; 10:e14092. [PMID: 36221262 PMCID: PMC9548314 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a significant disease pandemic. Dhaka City alone has contributed about one-third to the total COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh. Globally, patients with infectious diseases, including COVID-19, experience stigma. There was no quantitative estimate of stigma experienced by patients with COVID-19 in the country. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of stigma and its associated factors among patients with COVID-19 in Dhaka. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 respondents aged 18 years or older who had been hospitalized or had stayed at home and were tested negative 15 days to 6 months before the day of data collection. Data collection was done through in-person and telephone interviews using a semi-structured survey questionnaire. A 15-item COVID-19-related stigma scale questionnaire was used to assess stigma. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of stigma. Results More than half (53.1%) of the respondents experienced stigma when they were COVID-19 positive. Females were at a 3.24 times higher risk of experiencing stigma than their male counterparts. Respondents from the 60+ age group and 40-59 age group were 63.0% and 48.0% less likely to experience stigma than those from the 18-39 age group. Non-hospitalised patients had 1.67 times higher odds of facing stigma than those hospitalised. Conclusions This study reported a high prevalence of stigma among the patients with COVID-19 in Dhaka City. The current evidence base of stigma experience among patients with COVID-19 offers a solid foundation for creating effective strategies and policies and designing appropriate interventions to counter stigma, which will improve the psychological well-being of patients with COVID-19 in Bangladesh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Golam Kibria
- Department of Research, Centre for Development Action, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Taslima Islam
- Department of Research, Centre for Development Action, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Tajul Islam
- Department of Research, Centre for Development Action, Dhaka, Bangladesh,Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Russell Kabir
- Department of Research, Centre for Development Action, Dhaka, Bangladesh,School of Allied Health, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, Essex, UK
| | - Shakil Ahmed
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Papia Sultana
- Department of Statistics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
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15
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Socan M, Erčulj VI. Confronting SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Patients' Experience in the First Pandemic Wave-Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12743. [PMID: 36232041 PMCID: PMC9566657 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the real-life experience of persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Slovenia in the first pandemic wave and how the buffering effect of social and informational support affected negative feelings. We used a self-administrated questionnaire. There were 1182 eligible notified cases with the response rate 64.9%. At least 62% of responders were able to follow the isolation rules, while 21.1% did not or could not organize their living separately from other household members. The main providers during the isolation period were close family members. The most prevalent emotion in our study was worry (70.3%) and fear (37.6%). Worry and fear during the illness were less probable for men than women, but more probable for older patients. Participants with strong emotional support had lower odds of being sad. Those who were exposed to a larger number of sources of information had higher odds of being worried. Those patients who used a higher number of more credible sources of information had higher odds of being afraid during illness. Pets did not play a special role in psychological well-being. The role of the media and public health communications should be explored further to achieve an improved response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Socan
- National Institute of Public Health, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vanja Ida Erčulj
- Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
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16
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Mistry SK, Ali ARMM, Yadav UN, Huda MN, Rahman MM, Saha M, Rahman MA, Lim D, Ghimire S. Stigma toward people with COVID-19 among Bangladeshi older adults. Front Public Health 2022; 10:982095. [PMID: 36176510 PMCID: PMC9514800 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.982095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its overwhelming physical and mental health burden can result in stigmatization toward the disease and those affected. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of COVID-19-related stigma and its associated factors among older people in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,045 Bangladeshi older adults aged 60 years and above through telephone interviews in September 2021. The outcome was measured using an eight-point Stigma Scale, adapted to the Bengali language. Level of stigma was indicated by the cumulative score of the eight-items, ranging from 0 to 8, with a higher score indicating a higher level of stigma. On average, participants had stigmas on three of the eight items, and 62.6% had a high stigma score. The most prevalent stigmas were as follows: COVID-19 is a punishment from God (79.3%), patients with previous COVID-19 must be isolated (67.3%), and people infected with COVID-19 did not meet hygiene standards (63.9%). Participants who lived in rural areas (β: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.39 to 0.95) and who perceived needing additional care during the pandemic (β: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.60) had a higher average stigma score, whereas stigma scores were lower among unemployed/retired participants (β: -0.22, 95% CI: -0.45 to 0.00). The study findings suggest implementing interventions to raise awareness through appropriate health literacy interventions and mass media campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabuj Kanti Mistry
- Department of Health Research, ARCED Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Department of Public Health, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Uday Narayan Yadav
- Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Md. Nazmul Huda
- Department of Health Research, ARCED Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbeltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Md. Mahmudur Rahman
- Research, Monitoring and Information Management Organization/Institutions, Deep Eye Care Foundation, Rangpur, Bangladesh
| | - Manika Saha
- Department of Human-Centred Computing, Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | | | - David Lim
- Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbeltown, NSW, Australia
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbeltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Saruna Ghimire
- Department of Sociology and Gerontology and Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
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17
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Xin L, Wang L, Cao X, Tian Y, Yang Y, Wang K, Kang Z, Zhao M, Feng C, Wang X, Luo N, Liu H, Wu Q. Prevalence and influencing factors of pandemic fatigue among Chinese public in Xi'an city during COVID-19 new normal: a cross-sectional study. Front Public Health 2022; 10:971115. [PMID: 36172203 PMCID: PMC9511105 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.971115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to assess Chinese public pandemic fatigue and potential influencing factors using an appropriate tool and provide suggestions to relieve this fatigue. Methods This study used a stratified sampling method by age and region and conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of citizens in Xi'an, China, from January to February 2022. A total of 1500 participants completed the questionnaire, which collected data on demographics, health status, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) stressors, pandemic fatigue, COVID-19 fear, COVID-19 anxiety, personal resiliency, social support, community resilience, and knowledge, attitude, and practice toward COVID-19. Ultimately, 1354 valid questionnaires were collected, with a response rate of 90.0%. A binary logistic regression model was used to examine associations between pandemic fatigue and various factors. Result Nearly half of the participants reported pandemic fatigue, the major manifestation of which was "being sick of hearing about COVID-19" (3.353 ± 1.954). The logistic regression model indicated that COVID-19 fear (OR = 2.392, 95% CI = 1.804-3.172), sex (OR = 1.377, 95% CI = 1.077-1.761), the pandemic's impact on employment (OR = 1.161, 95% CI = 1.016-1.327), and COVID-19 anxiety (OR = 1.030, 95% CI = 1.010-1.051) were positively associated with pandemic fatigue. Conversely, COVID-19 knowledge (OR = 0.894, 95% CI = 0.837-0.956), COVID-19 attitude (OR = 0.866, 95% CI = 0.827-0.907), COVID-19 practice (OR = 0.943, 95% CI = 0.914-0.972), community resiliency (OR = 0.978, 95% CI = 0.958-0.999), and health status (OR = 0.982, 95% CI = 0.971-0.992) were negatively associated with pandemic fatigue. Conclusion The prevalence of pandemic fatigue among the Chinese public was prominent. COVID-19 fear and COVID-19 attitude were the strongest risk factors and protective factors, respectively. These results indicated that the government should carefully utilize multi-channel promotion of anti-pandemic policies and knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Xin
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Liuhui Wang
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xuan Cao
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yingnan Tian
- School of Business and Economics, University of San Carlos, Cebu, Philippines
| | - Yisi Yang
- Harbin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin, China
| | - Kexin Wang
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Zheng Kang
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhao
- Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chengcheng Feng
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Nana Luo
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Huan Liu
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,*Correspondence: Huan Liu
| | - Qunhong Wu
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Qunhong Wu
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18
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Kim H, Jhon M, Kim JW, Kang HJ, Ryu S, Kim JM, Lee JY, Kim SW. Factors Associated With Depression and Anxiety in Korean Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Psychiatry Investig 2022; 19:551-561. [PMID: 35903057 PMCID: PMC9334801 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2021.0365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was performed to identify factors associated with depression and anxiety among Korean adolescents during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,898 Korean adolescents (55.2% male, 44.8% female) ranging in age from 12 to 17 years (mean±standard deviaion age, 15.4±2.6 years). Depression and anxiety were defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≥10 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 score ≥10, respectively. Other questionnaires included sociodemographic data, psychosocial stresses, and experiences in association with COVID-19. Psychiatric scales included Gratitude Questionnaire-6, Perceived Stress Scale-10, and UCLA Loneliness Scale-3. RESULTS The prevalence rates of depressive and anxiety symptoms among participants were 13.8% and 21.0%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex, fear of COVID-19 infection, low gratitude were risk factors for depression. Fear of COVID-19 infection, increased TV watching time, and academic-related stress were risk factors for anxiety. CONCLUSION Depression and anxiety were prevalent during the pandemic in Korean adolescents, and were associated with fear of COVID-19 infection. Providing appropriate information on COVID-19, helping adolescents manage academic-related stress and maintain daily life patterns, and implementing interventions to foster gratitude are important for preventing depression and anxiety in Korean adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honey Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jhon
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Wan Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Ju Kang
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Seunghyong Ryu
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Min Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Yeon Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.,Gwangju Bukgu Community Mental Health and Welfare Center, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Wan Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.,Gwangju Bukgu Community Mental Health and Welfare Center, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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19
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Adjaottor ES, Addo FM, Ahorsu FA, Chen HP, Ahorsu DK. Predictors of COVID-19 Stress and COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance among Adolescents in Ghana. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137871. [PMID: 35805530 PMCID: PMC9266030 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to ravage world economies, and with its recent mutations, countries worldwide are finding ways of ramping up their vaccination programmes. This cross-sectional design study, therefore, examined the predictors of COVID-19 stress and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among adolescents in Ghana. A total of 817 participants were conveniently selected to respond to measures on fear of COVID-19, perceived stigma from COVID-19, self-stigma from COVID-19, believing COVID-19 information, COVID-19 infection prevention behaviours, COVID-19 stress, and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance. It was found that females believed COVID-19 information and accepted COVID-19 vaccination more than males did. Moreover, there were significant relationships between the majority of the COVID-19-related variables. Furthermore, fear of COVID-19, self-stigma from COVID-19, and COVID-19 infection prevention behaviours were found to be significant predictors of COVID-19 stress. Additionally, believing COVID-19 information, danger and contamination fears (a subscale of COVID-19 stress), and traumatic stress (a subscale of COVID-19 stress) were significant predictors of COVID-19 vaccination acceptance. These findings imply that different factors influence different COVID-19 variable. Therefore, careful considerations and research should be employed by health authorities and policymakers in preparing COVID-19 information to target different age groups and for different COVID-19 purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Sethina Adjaottor
- Department of Behavioural Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi AK-4944, Ghana; (E.S.A.); (F.-M.A.)
| | - Frimpong-Manso Addo
- Department of Behavioural Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi AK-4944, Ghana; (E.S.A.); (F.-M.A.)
| | | | - Hsin-Pao Chen
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, E-DA Hospital, Kaohsiung 824, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 824, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (H.-P.C.); (D.K.A.)
| | - Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 11 Yuk Choi Rd Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence: (H.-P.C.); (D.K.A.)
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20
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Mlouki I, Zammit N, Ghammem R, Ben Fredj S, Bannour R, El Echi A, Ladhari H, Haddedi A, Ghodhbani MM, Maatoug J, Ghannem H. Validity and reliability of a modified short version of a stigma scale for use among Tunisian
COVID
‐19 patients after quarantine: A cross‐sectional study. Health Sci Rep 2022; 5:e520. [PMID: 35224221 PMCID: PMC8855630 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim The COVID‐19 is a stigmatizing infectious disease even after healing. Until now, no COVID‐19 stigma scale validated in Tunisian Arabic language among the general population is available. Developing such tools is necessary to detect COVID‐19 stigma and reduce it effectively. Indeed, stigmatization of COVID‐19 patients could increase the spread of this disease and its related mental health issues. We aimed at testing the validity of a translated and modified version of the 12‐item HIV stigma scale among Tunisian COVID‐19 patients. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted between November and December 2020 among a representative sample of COVID‐19 patients in the governorate of Sousse, Tunisia, after quarantine. The 12‐item HIV stigma scale was translated in Tunisian Arabic and then modified to be adapted to the Tunisian context. The preliminary modified version was administrated to the participants by pretrained medical doctors during phone calls. It consisted on 20 items covering the four stigma dimensions (personalized stigma, disclosure concerns, concerns with public attitudes, and negative self‐image). The psychometric evaluation of this version included internal consistency as well as principal component analysis (PCA). Results The responses of 346 COVID‐19 patients were obtained. Their median age was 40 years (interquartile range: 30‐54.5). Females represented 60.4% of them. The PCA resulted in a three factor solution with 14 items. This 14‐item scale demonstrated good internal consistency with a global Cronbach's α of 0.91 and values of 0.94, 0.93, and 0.98 for social stigma, negative self‐image, and disclosure concerns, respectively. Conclusion This study provides a reliable and valid instrument for stigma measuring among Tunisian COVID‐19 patients. The use of this scale would contribute in reducing the spread of this new infectious disease and its related mental health issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imen Mlouki
- Department of Epidemiology Farhat Hached University Hospital Sousse Tunisia
| | - Nawel Zammit
- Department of Epidemiology (LR19SP03) Farhat Hached University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse Sousse Tunisia
| | - Rim Ghammem
- Department of Epidemiology (LR19SP03) Farhat Hached University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse Sousse Tunisia
| | - Sihem Ben Fredj
- Department of Epidemiology (LR19SP03) Farhat Hached University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse Sousse Tunisia
| | - Rania Bannour
- Department of Epidemiology Farhat Hached University Hospital Sousse Tunisia
| | - Ansar El Echi
- Department of Epidemiology Farhat Hached University Hospital Sousse Tunisia
| | | | | | | | - Jihene Maatoug
- Department of Epidemiology (LR19SP03) Farhat Hached University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse Sousse Tunisia
| | - Hassen Ghannem
- Department of Epidemiology (LR19SP03) Farhat Hached University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse Sousse Tunisia
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