Perceived stigma among Tunisian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Turki, M.; Ouali, Reehab; Ellouze, S.; Ayed, H. Ben; Rihab, Charfi; Féki, H.; Halouani, N.; Aloulou, J.

doi:10.1016/j.encep.2022.08.014

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…In most of the studies reviewed, HCWs, particularly those directly serving patients, have faced significant stigmatization amid the COVID-19 pandemic (Table 2 ). This stigmatization encompasses various forms of mistreatment, including bullying, verbal abuse such as ridicule and insults in public settings, physical assaults like spraying bleach or throwing objects, and even attacks on ambulances [ 35 – 38 ]. Additionally, HCWs have encountered harassment and violations of their social and civil rights, such as being denied access to public transportation, rental housing eviction, and denial of services [ 37 , 39 – 43 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stigmatization experiences of healthcare workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

Negarandeh,

Shahmari,

Zare

2024

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers face the stigmatization of those caring for COVID-19 patients, creating a significant social problem. Therefore, this study investigated the stigmatization of healthcare workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods In this scoping review study, searches were conducted from December 2019 to August 2023 in Persian and English using various databases and search engines including PubMed (Medline), Embase, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, ProQuest, Science Direct, Springer, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and national databases. The study used English keywords such as Social Stigma, Health Personnel, Healthcare Worker, Medical Staff, Medical Personal, Physicians, doctors, Nurses, nursing staff, COVID-19, and coronavirus disease 2019, and their Persian equivalents, and their Persian equivalents to explore healthcare workers’ experiences of COVID-19-related stigma. Results From a total of 12,200 search results, 77 eligible studies were included in this study. stigmatization of healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients was evident from the literature because of fear, misinformation, and negative self-image. Manifestations were violence and deprivation of social rights, resulting in adverse biopsychosocial, occupational, and economic consequences. This condition can affect negatively health staff themselves, their families, and society as well. Anti-stigmatization measures include informing society about the realities faced by healthcare workers, presenting an accurate and empathetic image of health workers, providing psychosocial support to health workers, and encouraging them to turn to spirituality as a coping mechanism. There are notable research gaps in comprehending the phenomenon, exploring its variations across diverse healthcare roles and cultural contexts, examining its long-term effects, and monitoring shifts in stigma perceptions over time. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the stigmatization of healthcare workers, causing mistreatment and rights violations. This stigma persists even post-pandemic, posing a psychological dilemma for caregivers. Addressing this requires comprehensive strategies, including tailored stigma prevention programs and research to understand its psychological impact.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stigmatization experiences of healthcare workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

Negarandeh,

Shahmari,

Zare

2024

BMC Health Serv Res

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“…Furthermore, they were being avoided by the general public, other HCWs at the facility, and isolated themselves from others to avoid stigmatization but also to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 to others [32]. Tunisian HCWs were avoided by friends, neighbours, families, and in social activities and experienced verbal stigmatization on some occasions [33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another interesting intervention is "Photovoices" in which participants document and share their experiences through photos: it provides a platform for healthcare workers to come together find support in each other [28]. Furthermore, positive approaches in disseminating information and health education of the general public through involvement of the media and community sensitization may reduce stigma related to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases [33,37,41].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We interviewed 32 females and 21 males between the age of 23 and 64 years (on average 31 years). Interviewees from the Philippines were on average 43 years old and thus older compared to the other countries (average ranging from [27][28][29][30][31][32][33]. Interviewees worked as nurse assistants (n = 9), nurses (n = 25), or physicians (n = 18) on COVID-19 departments in urban (n = 45) or rural (n = 3) hospitals.…”

Section: Participant Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Respected but stigmatized: Healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients

Spruijt,

Cronin,

Udeorji

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) caring for Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients are at increased risk of being stigmatized, which compromises their individual mental well-being and the quality of care they deliver. Stigma-reduction interventions may (partly) prevent this. However, there is a lack of in-depth understanding of the experiences and underlying causes of COVID-19 stigma among HCWs, which is needed to design such interventions. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews to assess COVID-19 stigma among COVID-19 HCWs in Ireland, Nigeria, The Netherlands, Pakistan, and The Philippines. Methods We used a purposive and snowball sampling to recruit a total of 53 HCWs for online interviews (13 in Ireland; 15 in Nigeria; 6 in The Netherlands; 6 in Pakistan; and 13 in The Philippines (2021). After verbatim transcribing interviews, we used a thematic approach for data analysis. Results In all countries, stigmatization of COVID-19 HCWs is driven by fear of infection and the perception of HCWs being carriers of the disease amplified by them wearing of scrubs and personal protective equipment. There were differences between countries in the way stigma manifested in self- anticipated and experienced stigma like scolding, discrimination, avoidance, (self-) isolation, and exclusion in public, in the community, at work, and in the household. The stigma resulted in feelings of depression, loneliness, isolation, and the desire to quit one’s job. Discussion COVID-19 HCWs from all countries experienced all forms of stigmatization related to their work as a COVID-19 frontliner. This affected their mental well-being, which in turn affects job performance and quality of care, there is a high need to develop stigma reduction tools for HCWs.

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“…COVID-19 has led to stigma and discrimination among various groups of people in different populations. Healthcare workers caring for those affected by COVID-19, those who have had COVID-19, those belonging to lower socioeconomic groups, and those with certain religious and racial identities are the most vulnerable to discrimination [ 10 ]. During the 2003 SARS epidemic, 20-49% of healthcare professionals caring for SARS patients were stigmatized over fear of transmitting the disease by people in their community, according to studies [ 11 , 12 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability in Stigma Severity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Esen,

Kaya,

Günay

et al. 2023

Cureus

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Objective The aim of this study was to investigate change in the stigma that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic over time and the factors responsible for the change. Methods Individuals with COVID-19 who presented to Ankara Medicalpark and VM Medicalpark Hospitals' Internal Diseases and Chest Diseases polyclinic between May 2021 and April 2022 were examined. The volunteers were divided into two groups: those who had COVID-19 within the first six months of the pandemic (group 1) and those who had it in the second six months (group 2). The questionnaire assessing stigma consisted of 29 propositions that participants could mark whether they agreed with them or not. Results The median age of the volunteers was 38 years. Eighty-eight (69.3%) had the disease in the first six months of the pandemic and 39 (30.7%) in the second six months. Moreover, 76.1% of the participants in the first group and 94.9% of those in the second group did not agree with the statement "I thought COVID-19 was a punishment for me" (p=0.011). Further, 56.8% of the participants in the first group and 97.4% of those in the second group stated that they did not agree with the statement "Employers may terminate the employment of employees who they find out have contracted COVID-19" (p<0.001). 80.7% of the participants in the first group and 38.5% of those in the second group agreed with the statement "There was social discrimination against people who caught COVID-19" (p<0.001). Conclusions At the beginning of the pandemic, the participants had concerns about losing their status and jobs, but this anxiety decreased over time. Stigma in the first six months of the pandemic was greater than that in the second six months, and discrimination related to stigma decreased with recognition of the disease and the increase in experience.

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Perceived stigma among Tunisian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cited by 4 publications

References 30 publications

Stigmatization experiences of healthcare workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

Stigmatization experiences of healthcare workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

Respected but stigmatized: Healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients

Variability in Stigma Severity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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