The Lived Social Experience of COVID-19 Survivors in Southwestern Nigeria

The traditional perceptions of disease causation often reinforce the feelings of stigmatization and discrimination towards individuals who have recovered from an illness. This study investigated the existing social practices with regard to stigmatization and discrimination against COVID-19 survivors in Southwest Nigeria. Using the Psychoanalytic Theory, this phenomenological qualitative study utilized the snowball sampling method and an in-depth interview to sample 25 COVID-19 survivors in Southwest Nigeria. Collected data for this study were analyzed thematically, using content analysis with the aid of the ATLAS.ti software. Findings from the study indicated that COVID-19 survivors generally experience sympathy, hostility, mockery, and social exclusion. Basically, the nature and type of stigmatization experienced by the survivors were psychological in nature. Reactions towards stigmatization manifested in negative emotions, such as suicidal thoughts and emotional outbursts. The study recommended the use of effective mediums to enlighten the public about the dangers inherent in discrimination against survivors.