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COVID-19 in LMICs: the need to place stigma front and centre to its response

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posted on 2023-06-09, 21:47 authored by Keetie Roelen, Caroline AckleyCaroline Ackley, Paul BoycePaul Boyce, Nicolas Farina, Santiago RipollSantiago Ripoll
COVID-19 has caused unprecedented health, economic and societal impacts across the world, including many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The pandemic and its fallout have laid bare deep-seated social and economic inequalities with marginalised groups being at greater risk of infection and being disproportionately affected by containment measures and their socioeconomic consequences. Stigma is a central element to such inequalities but remains largely overlooked in the debate on the response to COVID-19, including in LMICs. Yet we know from experiences with other infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Ebola that disease-related stigma is detrimental to halting and controlling pandemics and achieving equitable development. Emerging evidence suggests that stigma associated with COVID-19 is already taking hold. This paper assesses potential driving factors of COVID-19-related stigma, and how this intersects with existing stigma fault lines and explores mechanisms through which COVID-19-related stigma may be counteracted, with a focus on LMICs.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

European Journal of Development Research

ISSN

0957-8811

Publisher

Palgrave Macmillan

Department affiliated with

  • BSMS Neuroscience Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2020-10-06

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2021-10-22

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2020-10-05

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