A Qualitative Study on Stigmatisation Associated With COVID-19: An Iranian Experience

Background: The social stigma associated with a disease represents an important issue for health policymakers at the local, national, and international levels. This study aimed to survay and analyze the experience of stigma among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Iran. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted from September to December 2020 in the Fars, Khorasan, and Yazd provinces of Iran. Sampling was done via the snowball method; based on data saturation criteria, 24 adults over 18 years of age who had experienced affliction with COVID-19 were recruited. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with each patient. Data were analyzed following the conventional content analysis method described by Erlingsson and Brysiewicz. Findings: The results showed that during their affliction with COVID-19, the participants experienced difficult, anxious times, with rejection and alienation from their first-degree relatives taking them by surprise. The three main themes extracted from this study were (i) fear and rejection, (ii) discrimination, and (iii) loneliness. These experiences have changed the attitudes of the participants toward life and themselves. Interpretation: Based on our results, it can be said that paying attention to social stigma among patients during pandemics is an important social necessity and health policy. It is recommended to have psychological counseling sessions for those afflicted and to provide education and training to the public regarding the proper treatment of patients with COVID-19. Quantitative studies in this field are highly recommended. Funding Statement: This study was supported by Vice Chancellor of Research, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran (Grant No: 20183). Declaration of Interests: Nothing to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: The protocol of the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Ethics code: IR.SUMS.REC.1399.419).