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. 2023 Jul 11:14:1180252.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1180252. eCollection 2023.

Beyond physical health: the role of psychosocial challenges and stigma in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic-A scoping review

Lakshit Jain  1   2 , Siddhi Bhivandkar  3 , Huma Baqir  4 , Sheikh Shoib  5 , Nirav Nimavat  6 , Anmol Mohan  7 , Aarij Shakil Zubair  8 , Muhammad Youshay Jawad  9 , Nazar Muhammed  10 , Rizwan Ahmed  11 , Vishi Sachdeva  12 , Saeed Ahmed  13
Affiliations

Beyond physical health: the role of psychosocial challenges and stigma in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic-A scoping review

Lakshit Jain et al. Front Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: The socio-cultural response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the level of adherence to evidence-based guidelines played a crucial role in determining the morbidity and mortality outcomes during the pandemic. This review aims to evaluate the impact of stigma and psycho-socio-cultural challenges on efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify ways to mitigate such challenges in future pandemics.

Methods: Using keywords including COVID-19, coronavirus, stigma, psychosocial challenges, and others, the authors searched seven major databases with a time limitation of July 2021, which yielded 2,038 results. Out of these, 15 papers were included in this review.

Results: The findings of the review indicated that several psychosocial, socio-economic, and ethno-cultural factors are linked to the transmission and control of COVID-19. The research revealed that stigma and related psychosocial challenges and others, such as anxiety, fear, and stigma-driven social isolation, have resulted in significant mental health problems.

Discussion: The review underscores the negative impact of stigma on COVID-19 patients, survivors, and the general population. Addressing stigma and psychosocial challenges is crucial to effectively manage the current pandemic and to prevent similar challenges during future public health crises.

Keywords: COVID-19; conspiracy; infodemic; mental health; pandemic; psychocultural; psychosocial; stigma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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