A social stigma toward people with COVID-19 or people who may have COVID-19 and its consequences: a qualitative study

Abstract

The descriptive qualitative research aimed to explain social stigma among people with COVID-19 or people who may have COVID-19 and its consequences. Seventeen participants which consisted of two people who have COVID-19 and fifteen people involved were purposively recruited. In-depth interview questionnaires were used to guide in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed by content analysis to reveal significant themes. The results revealed six main themes; 1) meaning of social stigma which included two main characteristics: discrimination and condemning/gossiping/blame  2) causes of  social stigma which included five sub-themes; a lack of knowledge, fear and paranoid, belief in rumors, ambiguous information and mistaken belief 3) types of social stigma which included three sub-themes;  discrimination, condemned/gossiped/blamed, and not include in community activities 4) social stigma impacts including two sub-themes. First, negative impacts on mind, economy, and social; and second, positive impacts including: increasing prevention awareness in Covid-19, adapting to new normal lifestyles, developing community problem solving, and acceptance of health care volunteer’s practices 5) reducing social stigma including three sub-themes; having communication for establishing knowledge and understanding, promoting new normal lifestyles, and engaging community in reducing stigma,  and 6) changing attitude toward stigmatized individual including 2 sub-themes; forgiving and positive thinking. These findings could be useful for establishing social stigma policy and developing guideline for reducing social stigma attached to Covid-19 infection according to the community context.