Comparative study on stigma and anxiety and depression during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: Stigma is when someone discriminates against a person by his/her illness and restricts or excludes his/her civil rights. Since becoming the pandemic around the world, stigma against people infected with the COVID-19 disease is taking many forms. We aimed to detect the anxiety and discrimination of infected people with COVID-19 disease. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using a descriptive cross-actional design and a semi-structured online questionnaire. Results: Totally 265 patients aged 18-85, who were newly diagnosed with COVID-19 disease, were completed the survey questionnaire. 67.2% (n=178) were female, 71.3% had higher educated, and the average household income was 1.000.000-2.000.000 MNT. Anxiety (62.26%) and depression (66.42%) of the respondents were more assessed in female with higher levels than males (p≤0.005). Of the total respondents, 98% were discriminated against, 36% of those had a moderate, and 61.9% had a high level of self-stigma. There was a statistically significant difference (x2=8.172; p= 0.017) in which men were more likely to self-stigma than in women, and but there was no difference in gender for social-stigma (p= 0.254). The level of anxiety was statistically significant compared to the level of social (x2=19.47; p=0.003) and self-stigma (x2=37.27; p=0.001). But social & self-stigma no differences with statistically significant to comparing agegroup, marital status, personality types and depression level. Conclusion: 98% of people with COVID-19 had social and self-stigma. However the anxiety level was significantly different with the level of social (p=0.003) and self-stigma (p=0.001), but stigmatization types no significantly differences for depression level.