Reducing stigma and discrimination associated with COVID-19: early stage pandemic rapid review and practical recommendations

Abstract

Aims To develop recommendations for strategies and interventions to reduce stigma and discrimination related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), through reviewing and synthesising evidence in relation to COVID-19 and other disease outbreaks and infectious/stigmatised conditions from systematic reviews and primary studies and recommendations from additional materials. Methods Rapid review, drawing on the World Health Organization's (WHO) methodology for developing interim guidelines during health emergencies. PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central and Campbell Collaboration searched up to mid-April 2020. Searches were supplemented by reference-searching and expert recommendations. Searches were designed to identify: (1) systematic reviews (<10 years), or (2) primary intervention studies (no date limit) reporting evidence on anti-stigma interventions (in relation to COVID-19 or other infectious/stigmatised conditions) or (3) additional relevant materials. Data were extracted on population, intervention, outcome and results. These data were compiled into evidence summary tables and narrative overviews. Recommendations on strategies for COVID-19 stigma-reduction were developed using the WHO ‘Evidence to Decision’ framework approach. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (registration ID: CRD42020177677). Results The searches identified a total of 4150 potentially relevant records, from which 12 systematic reviews and 29 additional articles were included. Overarching considerations and specific recommendations focus on: (1) language/words used in relation to COVID-19 and affected people; (2) media/journalistic practices; (3) public health interventions; (4) targeted public health interventions for key groups and (5) involving communities and key stakeholders. Conclusions These recommendations represent the first consolidated evidence-based guidance on stigma and discrimination reduction in relation to COVID-19. Mitigating the impact of stigma is critical in reducing distress and negative experiences, and strengthening communities' resolve to work together during exceptional circumstances. Ultimately, reducing stigma helps addressing structural inequalities that drive marginalisation and exacerbate both health risks and the impact of stigma. Administrations and decision makers are urged to consider integrating these recommendations into the ongoing COVID-19 response.

Studi Kualitatif Stigma Negatif terhadap Tenaga Kesehatan yang Terkena Covid-19 di Kabupaten Badung Bali

“…Hal tersebut disebabkan karena adanya stigma negatif dari masyarakat di sekitar lingkungan tempat tinggalnya, sehingga diperlukan adanya dukungan psikologis pada tenaga kesehatan maupun pasien yang telah terkonfirmasi positif Covid-19. Penelitian sebelumnya juga menunjukkan bahwa pandemi dapat menyebabkan efek yang cukup parah dan signifikan pada masalah psikologis, terutama pada pasien yang telah terkonfirmasi positif (Gronholm et al, 2021).…”

Effectiveness of a Video-Based Intervention on Reducing Perceptions of Fear, Loneliness, and Public Stigma Related to COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Video interventions are a feasible option during isolation, and are in addition, easy and cost-effective to implement. Therefore, we designed two video interventions following recent guidelines suggesting employing knowledge-shaping and attitude-changing content to reduce fear, stigma and discrimination associated with COVID-19 [ 14 , 15 ] and to promote and facilitate social interactions to reduce loneliness perceptions [ 16 ].…”

“…Despite the wealth of recent research on the impacts of COVID-19 on mental health, gaps remain, as most of these studies are cross-sectional and few of them directly address fear, stigma and loneliness. Moreover, to our knowledge, studies that have examined the efficacy of an intervention in reducing COVID-19 related fear, loneliness and public stigma are very limited [14][15][16].…”

“…Video interventions have been shown to be effective in mitigating mental health stigma [19,20]. However, to our knowledge, Evidence of the effectiveness of video-based interventions to mitigate COVID-19 related fear, loneliness and stigma is very limited [14][15][16]. Video interventions are a feasible option during isolation, and are in addition, easy and cost-effective to implement.…”

The Invisible and Insidious Enemy

“…Although the association between obesity and COVID-19 is well-described, it is important to avoid over-emphasizing attribution of COVID-19 disease burden, severity, and death to obesity alone, as it leads to further stigmatization and discrimination of people with obesity [ 7 ]. Thus, public campaigns launched with weight loss as a key strategy to combat COVID-19 might inadvertently worsen this issue.…”