The stigma experiences of INDIVIDUALS WITH COVID-19

Abstract

The subject of this study is the disease processes of adults over the age of eighteen who have had Covid-19 and their experiences of stigma/exclusion in this process. The aim of the study is to focus on whether the interviewed participants are faced with stigmatization practices arising from the disease, if they do, how stigma is interpreted by sick individuals and how they develop attitudes towards stigmatization practices. The study aims to respond to the gap in the literature that limits the relationship between Covid and stigma, especially in Turkey, from the perspective of healthcare professionals. Indeed, it focuses on the subjective, everyday experiences of people with different demographics who have experienced the disease. The study was completed through face-to-face in-depth interviews, which is one of the qualitative research techniques, with twenty-five adults over the age of eighteen, with an approach that includes phenomenological research, which is frequently used in qualitative research methods. In the study, a descriptive analysis technique based on theming and categorization was used as an analysis approach that is frequently used in qualitative research. At the end of the study, it was revealed that despite the risk of stigmatization, the participants shared their illness with their social circles with a sense of collective responsibility. Contrary to what was predicted, it is possible to say that stigma was not observed in all of the participants, and in this context, the experience of stigmatization in this participant profile was limited. The declared stigmatization aspects were defined as avoiding close physical contact after quarantine, using insulting language, avoiding being in the same environment, and making jokes related to the disease.