Work

Disease-Related Stigma, Stigmatizers, Causes, and Consequences: A Systematic Review

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Stigma is a sociological concept that is important in medicine and health because it threatens health as much as the disease itself. We aimed to explore the causes, stigmatizers, consequences and coping strategies related to the stigma of diseases by systematically analyzing relevant literature. Methods: This systematic review examined 65 articles on Disease-Related Stigma by searching Noormags, Magiran, SID, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases. The articles were published in Persian and English between 2001 and 2022 and conducted in Iran. We used a three-step systematic review process to select articles that met the research criteria. Results: Conflict in society, lack of knowledge, specific characteristics of the disease, and the contagious nature of disease are the main causes of stigma, leading to stigmatization by different groups such as significant others, generalized others, institutional others, and macro others. Patients experiencing stigma face various psychological, physical, and social complications, and they may use concealment as a coping strategy, which can pose a potential threat to society's general health. Conclusion: By knowing the causes and stigmatizers of disease-related, it is possible to reduce stigma with less cost and time.

Source: Iranian Journal of Public Health

DOI: 10.18502/ijph.v52i10.13842

Authors: Hossein Akbari, Mahla Mohammadi, Abolfazl Hosseini

Institution: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

Language: English

Topic: Mental Health Treatment and Access

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $300