COVID-19 in LMICs: The Need to Place Stigma Front and Centre to Its Response

Keetie Roelen, Caroline Ackley (), Paul Boyce (), Nicolas Farina () and Santiago Ripoll ()
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Caroline Ackley: University of Sussex
Paul Boyce: University of Sussex
Nicolas Farina: University of Sussex
Santiago Ripoll: University of Sussex

The European Journal of Development Research, 2020, vol. 32, issue 5, No 11, 1592-1612

Abstract: Abstract 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.

Keywords: Stigma; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Pandemic; Disease-related stigma; Development; LMICs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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DOI: 10.1057/s41287-020-00316-6

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