Factors associated with the stigma-discrimination complex towards healthcare workers among university students during the coronavirus pandemic in Mexico

Abstract

The COVID-19-related stigma towards healthcare workers negatively influences their performance and job satisfaction, and well-being. The frequency of COVID-19-related stigma towards healthcare workers and its associated factors has not been sufficiently investigated. The objective was to determine the frequency and variables associated with COVID-19-related stigmatisation towards health workers in emerging-age university adults in Mexico. Analytical and cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire in 1,054 students between 18 and 29 years of age. Demographic variables, religiosity, fear of COVID-19 and stigma-discrimination related to COVID-19 towards healthcare workers were analysed. The latter was set as the dependent variable, while demographic variables, religiosity and high fear of COVID-19 were the independent variables. For the association between the variables, a binomial and logarithmic generalised linear model was designed to calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios. The proportion of high stigma-discrimination was 12.4%, and this was associated with a high fear of COVID-19 (APR 1.51, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.23). The main limitations were the cross-sectional nature, social desirability bias, non-probabilistic sampling. The results highlight the importance of establishing programmes to reduce COVID-19-related stigmatisation towards healthcare workers.

Perceived COVID‐19‐associated discrimination, mental health and professional‐turnover intention among frontline clinical nurses: The mediating role of resilience

“…As well, empirical evidence has shown an increasing number of healthcare personnel reporting being threatened, stigmatized, and socially discriminated against since the onset of the coronavirus outbreak (Cassiani‐Miranda et al . 2021; Sotgiu & Dobler 2020). A report from Jordan estimated that about 21% of healthcare workers (HCWs) experienced moderate levels of social discrimination, while 25% experienced a higher level of social discrimination (Dalky et al .…”

Stigmatization of Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…A lot of investigations have been done in this regard to study help attitudes 37,38 . A study done in Mexico concluded that there is a considerable stigmatization of healthcare workers by the adult university students 39 . It has been shown that there is an increasing incidence that COVID-19 could be an independent risk factor for stress in healthcare workers 40 .…”