The psychological distress and mental health disorders from COVID-19 stigmatization in Ghana

• Main Authors: Dickson Adom, Jephthar Adu Mensah, Mavis Osei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-01-01
• Series: Social Sciences and Humanities Open
• Subjects: Stigmatization; Psychological distress; Psychotherapy; Mental health disorders; Covid-19
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291121000826

The emergence of the COVID-19 global pandemic in Ghana has resulted in various degrees of stigmatization. Previous studies have stressed the need for developing policies to curb the stigma towards COVID-19 survivors and healthcare workers. Some have investigated the knowledge and willingness of people to accept COVID-19 survivors. Others have also explored the experiences of health workers who have been victims of stigma from COVID-19. There is a need for further studies to understand COVID-19 related stigma and related psychological distress. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cases of COVID-19 related stigma and discrimination against healthcare workers, COVID-19 recovered patients, suspected persons of COVID-19, Asians, and persons with travel history from COVID-19 hotspot countries. The study was undertaken using the phenomenology approach to qualitative research. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used in recruiting the twenty-eight study participants. Data were garnered using interviews and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The findings revealed that COVID-19 victims have faced various forms of stigma such as stereotyping, social exclusion, mockery, finger-pointing, and insults. The study recommends that the COVID-19 National Response Team in Ghana must put in place a robust psychosocial intervention plan for stigmatized persons to help them cope with the stigma and help in its prevention.