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. 2024 Mar;25(2):235-243.
doi: 10.1177/15248399221115063. Epub 2022 Aug 11.

Anticipated and Experienced Stigma After Testing Positive for SARS-CoV-2: A Qualitative Study

Shelley N Facente  1   2 , Mariah De Zuzuarregui  1 , Darren Frank  1 , Sarah Gomez-Aladino  1 , Ariel Muñoz  1 , Sabrina Williamson  1 , Emily Wang  1 , Lauren A Hunter  1 , Laura Packel  1 , Arthur Reingold  1
Affiliations

Anticipated and Experienced Stigma After Testing Positive for SARS-CoV-2: A Qualitative Study

Shelley N Facente et al. Health Promot Pract. 2024 Mar.

Abstract

Introduction: Stigma has inhibited public health practitioners' influence during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explore the experienced and anticipated stigma of people affiliated with a large university in the United States, using the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative secondary substudy of 20 people who tested SARS-CoV-2 positive and 10 who tested negative in the summer of 2020, selected from a study of 3,324 university students and employees.

Findings: No participants reported anticipated stigmatization prior to testing positive. However, eight of 20 participants recounted stigma marking (being marked by COVID-19 diagnosis or membership in a "high-risk" group) or manifestations of stigma after testing positive, including feelings of guilt or shame, and concerns about being judged as selfish or irresponsible. Three described being denied services or social interactions as a result of having had COVID-19, long after their infectiousness ended. Participants noted that clear public health messaging must be paired with detailed scientific information, rather than leaving people to resort to non-experts to understand the science.

Discussion: Public health messaging designed to mitigate spread of SARS-CoV-2 and protect the community may perpetuate stigma and exacerbate inequities. As a result, people may avoid testing or treatment, mistrust public health messaging, or even use risk-increasing behavior as coping mechanisms.

Implications for practice: Intentional use of language that promotes equity and deters discrimination must be high priority for any COVID-19-related public health messaging. Partnership with community leaders to co-create programs and disseminate messaging is a critical strategy for reducing stigma, especially for historically mistreated groups.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; public health messaging; qualitative research; stigma.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Stigma-Related Interview Themes (Bold, Underlined Text) Applied to the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework Source: Adapted from Stangl et al. (2009).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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