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Stigma and COVID-19 in Iran: a rapid assessment

Azad Shokri (Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran)
Ghobad Moradi (Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran)
Amjad Mohamadi Bolbanabad (Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran)
Mitra Satary (Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran)
Mahin Shabrandi (Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran)
Parsa Sadeghkhani (Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran)
Aram Mohammadi (Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran)
Armin Ghorishi (Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran)
Ronak Veisy (Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran)
Arshad Veysi (Zoonoses Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran)
Bakhtiar Piroozi (Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran)
Shina Amiri Hoseini (Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran)
Sonia Darvishi (Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran)
Heshmatollah Asadi (Department of Public Health, School of Health and Nutrition, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran)

International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare

ISSN: 2056-4902

Article publication date: 17 November 2020

Issue publication date: 6 February 2021

101

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to officials of all the participations who cooperated during data collection and also highly appreciate the financial support of by Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran (IR.MUK.REC.1398.319).This study was conducted with the financial support of the Deputy Research and Technology of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences.

Citation

Shokri, A., Moradi, G., Mohamadi Bolbanabad, A., Satary, M., Shabrandi, M., Sadeghkhani, P., Mohammadi, A., Ghorishi, A., Veisy, R., Veysi, A., Piroozi, B., Amiri Hoseini, S., Darvishi, S. and Asadi, H. (2021), "Stigma and COVID-19 in Iran: a rapid assessment", International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 4-9. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-04-2020-0025

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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