Unpacking Pertinent States of Stigma and Stigmatization Associated with COVID-19 in Eclectic Contexts: a Review of the Literature

Abstract

Incontrovertibly, stigma and its concomitant stigmatization continue to derail the efficacy of the campaign to subdue stigma that negatively affects people’s health-seeking behavior. This is because they are engulfed with fear, despondency, shame, and guilt. The current article, through a literature review methodology, discusses pertinent states of stigma and stigmatization associated with COVID-19 in eclectic contexts, but with more focus directed to Sub-Saharan Africa. Findings indicate that COVID-19 is associated with stigma and stigmatization: fear of contagion; hatred and maltreatment meted out against health professionals; a lack or unavailability of the vaccines and concerns for their efficacy; and mythical and fallacious environments. The article recommends that for effective de-stigmatization of COVID-19, societies need to explore how stigma is caused. The governments and other COVID-19 campaign authorities must work synergistically to control, regulate, and streamline the information dissemination process so that it is bereft of ambiguities, myths, and mistruths surrounding COVID-19.