Stigma experienced by men diagnosed with COVID-19.

Anderson Reis De Sousa,Eric Santos Almeida,Elena Casado,Cleuma Sueli Santos Suto,Luana Santana Brito,Evanilda Souza De Santana Carvalho,Sheila Santa Barbara Cerqueira,Thiago Da Silva Santana

doi:10.1590/0034-7167-2021-0038

Abstract

to analyze the stigma characteristics perceived in the experience of men who had COVID-19. this qualitative study involved men living in Brazil, diagnosed with COVID-19, who answered semi-structured questions in an online form. Data were subjected to thematic and lexical analysis, interpreted in the light of the stigma theory. 92 men, adults, cisgender, heterosexual, of mixed race/color, belonging to middle class, living in the urban area, with higher education participated. The stigma characteristics evidenced were the occurrence of leave, perception of impolite treatment, use of labels and discrimination by co-workers, family members, neighbors and even healthcare professionals, with consequences for the psycho-emotional dimension. discrimination and exclusion derived from stigma surprised men marked by class and gender privileges, little used to being downgraded in interactions when compared to other groups.

Highlights

Stigma is understood as the depreciation of an individual or group of people who share certain socially devalued characteristics
Evidence points to the influence of masculinities in health behaviors and in the production of vulnerabilities, which prompts further investigation; this study presents the following question: how does COVID-19 stigma have been expressed in the experiences of men who were infected?
Category 2 - Experiences with stigmatizers and application of labels. This category is represented by elements from classes two, three and four and evidenced two subthemes/subcategories related to interactions with subjects situated by the participants as responsible for the stigmatization and the labels applied to the sick as a way of reference to their identity as a person with COVID-19

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Stigma is understood as the depreciation of an individual or group of people who share certain socially devalued characteristics. People diagnosed with COVID-19, during or even after complying with isolation measures, face social rejection, as they are avoided by others[2], being targets of critical assessments and derogatory, in addition to having canceled invitations[3]. Those who work in essential services with greater exposure to the virus or contacted family members may experience courtesy stigma[1,2,3,4]. Epidemiological studies have shown that men are the individuals most affected by COVID-19; they may be more vulnerable to suffering the consequences of stigma. Evidence points to the influence of masculinities in health behaviors and in the production of vulnerabilities, which prompts further investigation; this study presents the following question: how does COVID-19 stigma have been expressed in the experiences of men who were infected?

Study design

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

Findings

Study limitations