Scaling-up Community Self-reporting Rate for COVID-19: Implication for Assessing the Perceived Stigmatization of COVID-19 Survivors Among Residents of Agege Local Government, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging public health problem with over two million confirmed infections globally. Previous studies show that stigma impede the response activities. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the perceived stigmatization of COVID-19 survivors among residents of Agege local government, Lagos State, Nigeria. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 333 consenting residents recruited from Agege local government using multi-stage sampling technique. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on perceived stigmatization. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done using Chi-square and logistic regression respectively.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 35.7 ± 13.6 years. The proportion of respondents with poor knowledge was 50.5% and awareness for COVID-19 was 95.2%. Television and radio were the two major sources of awareness for COVID-19. Higher likelihood of perceived stigmatization was found among those aged 25 – 49 years (aOR= 3.1, 95% CI = 1.4 – 6.7), ≥ 50 years (aOR= 2.1, 95% CI = 1.1 – 3.9) and married respondents (aOR= 1.8, 95% CI = 1.1 – 2.9). To reduce the effect of stigmatization, we recommend a holistic response plan designed with basic facts about COVID-19 using programmes targeting married respondents as well as the adults.

Untitled

“…Stigma towards persons with COVID-19 has been experienced in many parts of the world. In a study carried out among residents in a locality in Lagos Nigeria to assess perceived stigmatization of survivors of COVID-19, almost half of the respondents admitted to stigmatizing survivors [21]. A qualitative study carried out in Ghana to assess the psychological distress and mental health disorders associated with COVID-19, revealed that many survivors and those suspectedto be infected had experienced stigma from family, health workers and others due to COVID-19 [22].…”