Journal Article

Stigma and COVID-19 in Iran: a rapid assessment

Sadeghkhani, Parsa, Shokri, Azad, Asadi, Heshmatollah, Satary, Mitra, Piroozi, Bakhtiar, Ghorishi, Armin, Shabrandi, Mahin, Veysi, Arshad, Darvishi, Sonia, Moradi, Ghobad, Amiri Hoseini, Shina, Mohammadi, Aram, Mohamadi Bolbanabad, Amjad, Veisy, Ronak

2021

Overview

Purpose The purpose of the study is to investigate the perceived stigma among residents of Sanandaj, west of Iran, following COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach This is a cross-sectional study conducted from March to April 2020. The sample consisted of 1,000 participants who live in Sanandaj. The data collection tool was a self-report electronic questionnaire. ANOVA and T-test were used to analyze the data. Findings The mean perceived stigma for COVID-19 was 5.50±2.24 (IQR: 3.75–6.87) out of 10-point scale. The highest point was seen for perceived external stigma (6.73±2.49, IQR: 5–8.75) followed by disclosure stigma (4.95±3.92, IQR: 0–10). Interestingly, self-employers were more concerned about disclosing their illness than those with governmental jobs (25±3.93 vs. 4.31±4.14, P<0.05), and also had an overall higher stigma score; 5.72±2.23 vs. 5.19±2.37, P<0.05). Originality/value COVID-19 stigma is high among Iranians and more common among men, youngsters and self-employers.

• Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited,Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subject: Age groups / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / Cross-sectional studies / Data collection / Disclosure / Disease transmission / Ebola virus / Employers / Epidemics / Infectious diseases / Males / Medical research / Occupations / Pandemics / Questionnaires / Self employment / Self report / Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 / Society / Stigma / Unemployment / Variance analysis