SOCIAL STIGMA AND PANDEMIC COVID-19
Stamatina Douki, Ioannis Koutelekos
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Publication year:
2022
Authors:
- Douki Stamatina, R.N., R.M.H.N., MSC, PHD(C), Head Nurse of Pschychiatric Halfway house of “Evaggelismos” Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Koutelekos Ioannis, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Nursing A',Technological Educational Institute of Athens
Keywords index:
Pages: 365-371
Abstract:
Introduction: Social stigma is an undesirable, defamatory quality that denies someone the right to social acceptance and equal participation in social life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), social stigma indicates the negative relationship of an individual or a group of individuals, who have certain characteristics, such as covid-19 disease, with the wider society. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore perceived social stigma among various population groups during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Methodology: The methodology included literature and research data review, which were collected through Google Scholar, Pub-med online database, Medline. Results: In the context of the pandemic, stigma and discrimination have appeared to aggravate the health of vulnerable social groups, reduce the effectiveness of protection measures, lead to a reduction in social capital and create new forms of social discrimination. Conclusions: This study makes evident that stigmatization of different population groups affects the outcome of covid-19 disease and causes for problems of mental health. Finally, stigmatization requires further investigation to implement appropriate information programs as well as to promote the adoption of behaviours in order to reduce the negative consequences. In addition, there is a need to provide psychological support that is individualized focused on the individual and his/her particularities as well as on his/her interaction with the wider social context in which he/she is embedded.
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