Stigma during COVID-19 pandemic

The role of infodemic as a key driver

  • Suheir Ali Moussa Department of psychological Counseling, Faculty of Education, Al-Baath University, and Al-Hawash Private University, Syria, moussasuhir@yahoo.com
Keywords: Stigmatization, Covid-19 Pandemic, Infodemic, discrimination

Abstract

The creation and dissemination of COVID-19 stigma can damage efforts exhibited to prevent and counter the spread of the virus. A basic factor that triggers COVID 19 stigma is infodemic. It seems also that stigma and infodemic in the time of COVID-19 pandemic are interrelated to each other and work together. The new front in the COVID-19 battle should be therefore fighting stigma and infodemic driving it given that their impact can be very detrimental and long-lasting without suitable social measures needed to empower and support the vulnerable populations during such a global pandemic. Based on some selected literature and research conducted during the outbreak period of the coronavirus pandemic, the current article sheds light on this topic by focusing on the following points: 1). Definition of Stigma and relevant terms; 2). Victims of social stigma during the COVID 19 Pandemic; 3). Consequences of COVID 19-related Stigma; 4). Infodemic as a key driver of COVID 19-related Stigma; 5). Guidelines to fight stigma and infodemic during COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adiukwu, F., Bytyçi, D. G., Hayek, S. E., Gonzalez-Diaz, J. M., Larnaout, A., Grandinetti, P., Nofal, M., Pereira- Sanchez, V., Ransing, R., Shalbafan, M., Soler-Vidal, J., Syarif, Z., Teixeira, A., da Costa M. P., Ramalho, R., & Orsolini, L. (2020). Global perspective and ways to combat stigma associated with COVID-19. Indian Journal of Psychological medicine, 42(6): 569–574. https://doi.org/10.1177/0253717620964932

Al-Rawi, A. & Shukla, V. (2020). Bots as Active News Promoters: A Digital Analysis of COVID-19 Tweets. Information 2020 Sep, 27; 11 (10): 461. https://doi.org/10.3390/info11100461

Bhanot, D., Singh, T., Verma, S. K., & Sharad, S. (2021). Stigma and Discrimination During COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in public health, 8, [577018]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.577018

Bhattacharya P., Banerjee, D., & Rao, T.S. (2020). The “untold” side of COVID-19: Social stigma and its consequences in India. Indian Journal of Psychological medicine, 42(4): 382–386. https://doi.org/101177/0253717620935578

Chaimowitz, G. A., Upfold, C., G´ea, L.P., Qureshi, A., Moulden, H. M., Mamak, M., & Bradford,J. (2021). Stigmatization of psychiatric and justice-involved populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Progress in neuropsychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 106, 110150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110150

Dar, S. A., Khurshid, S. Q., Wani, Z. A., Khanam, A., Haq, I., Shah, N. N., Shahnawaz, M., & Mustafa, H. (2020). Stigma in coronavirus disease-19 survivors in Kashmir, India: A cross-sectional exploratory study. PloS one, 15(11), e0240152. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone. 0240152

Duan, W., Bu, h., & Chen, Z. (2020). COVID-19-related stigma profiles and risk factors among people who are at high risk of contagion. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 266, 113425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113425

Fiorillo, A., & Gorwood, P. (2020). The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and implications for clinical Practice. European psychiatry, 63 (1), E32. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.35

Gronholm PC., Nose', M., van Brakel, W., Eaton, J., Ebenso, B., Fiekert, K., Thornicroft, G. (2021). Reducing stigma and discrimination associated with COVID-19: Early stage pandemic rapid review and practical recommendations. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 30, E15, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796021000056

Hatzenbuehler, M. L., Phelan, J. C., & Link, B. G. (2013). Stigma as a Fundamental Cause of Population Health Inequalities. American journal of public health, 103(5), 813-821. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2012.301069

Ko, N. Y., Lu, W. H., Chen, Y. L., Li, D.J., Wang, P. W., Hsu, S. T., Chen, C. C., Lin, Y. H., Chang, Y. P., &Yen, C. F. (2020). COVID-19-related information sources and psychological well-being: An online survey study in Taiwan. Brain, behavior, and immunity, 87, 153-154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.019

Kouzy, R., Abi Jaoude, J., Kraitem, A., El Alam, M.B., Karam, B., Adib, E., Zarka,J., Traboulsi, C., Akel, E. W., & Baddour, K. (2020). Coronavirus goes viral: Quantifying the COVID-19 misinformation epidemic on Twitter. Cureus, 12 (3), e7255. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7255

Li, Y., Twersky, S., Ignace, K., Zhao, M., Purandare, R., Bennett-Jones, B., & Weaver, S. R. (2020). Constructing and Communicating COVID-19 Stigma on Twitter: A Content Analysis of Tweets during the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Outbreak. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17 (18), 6847. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186847

Link, B., & Phelan, J. (2001). Conceptualizing Stigma. Annual review Sociology; 27: 363-385.

Lohiniva, A. L., Dub, T., Hagberg, L., & Nohynek, H. (2021). Learning about COVID-19-related stigma, quarantine and isolation experiences in Finland. PloS one, 16 (4), e0247962. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247962

Mahmud, A., & Islam, M. R. (2020). Social Stigma as a Barrier to Covid-19 Responses to Community Well-Being in Bangladesh. International Journal of Community Well-Being, 10, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42413-020-00071-w

Maiorano,A., Lasalvia, A., Sampogna, G., Pocai, B., Ruggeri, M., &Henderson, C. (2017). Reducing Stigma in Media Professionals: Is there Room for Improvement? Results from a Systematic Review. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie, 62 (10), 702-715. https://doi.org/10.1177/0706743717711172

Marzouki, Y., Aldossari, F. S., and Veltri, G. A. (2021). Understanding the buffering effect of social media use on anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Human Social Science Community. 8: 47. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00724-x

Naeem, S. B., & Bhatti, R. (2020). The Covid‐19 ‘infodemic’: a new front for information professionals. Health Information & Libraries Journal. 37:(3), 233-239. https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12311.2020

Pedrozo-Pupo, J. C., & Campo-Arias, A. (2020).Depression, perceived stress related to COVID, post-traumatic stress, and insomnia among asthma and COPD patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chronic Respiratory Disease, Volume 17: 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1177/1479973120962800

Sotgiu,G., & Dobler, C. C. (2020). Social stigma in the time of coronavirus disease 2019. The European respiratory journal, 56 (2), [2002461]. https://doi.org/10.1183/1399300302461.2020

Stangel, A. L., Earnshaw, V. A., Logie, C. H., van Barkel, W., CSimbayi, L., Barre', I. & Dovidio, J. F. (2019). The Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework: a global, crosscutting framework to inform research, intervention development, and policy on health-related stigmas. BMC Medicine, 17 (1), 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-019-1271-3

Sulistiadi, W., Rahayu, S., & Harmani, N. (2020). Handling of Public Stigma on COVID-19 in Indonesian Society. Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat Nasional (National Public Health Journal). 15(2): 70-76.

Taylor, S., Landry, C. A., Rachor, G. S., Paluszek, M. M., & Asmundson, G. (2020). Fear and avoidance of healthcare workers: An important, under-recognized from of stigmatization during the COVID19 pandemic. Journal of anxiety disorders, 75, 102289. https://doi.org/10.1016/.j.janxdis.2020.102289

Turner-Musa, J., Ajayi, O., & Kemp, L. (2020). Examining Social Determinants of Health, Stigma, and COVID-19 Disparities. Healthcare (Basel, Swizerland), 8(2),168. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8020168

Weiss, M. G., Ramakrishna, J., & Somma, D. (2006). Health-related stigma: rethinking concepts and interventions. Psychology, health & medicine, 11 (3), 277-287. https://doi.org/10.1080/135485006005950

World Health Organization. (2020). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

World Health Organization. (2020b). statement on the Second Meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee Regarding the Outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Available online at: https://ww.who.int/news-room/detail/30-0q-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak- of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov) (accessed March 30, 2020).

Yufika A, Pratama R, Anwar S, Winardi, W., Librianty, N., Prashanti, N., Sari, T., Utomo, P. S., Dwiamelia, T., Natha, P., Salwiyadi, S. Asrizal, F. W., Ikram, I., Wulandari, I., Haryanto, S., Fenobilire, N., Wagner, A. L., Jamil, K. F., Mudatsir, M., & Harapan, H. (2021). Stigma associated with COVID-19 among health care workers in Indonesia. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 1-5. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2021.93.

Published
2022-06-15
How to Cite
Moussa, S. (2022). Stigma during COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Research in Educational Sciences., 5(3), 77- 104. Retrieved from https://iafh.net/index.php/IJRES/article/view/364
Section
Articles