Non-Communicable Diseases-Related Stigma: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review

Sarju Sing Rai, Elena V. Syurina, Ruth M. H. Peters, Annisa Ika Putri and Marjolein B. M. Zweekhorst
Additional contact information
Sarju Sing Rai: Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije University Amsterdam, 1081 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Elena V. Syurina: Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije University Amsterdam, 1081 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ruth M. H. Peters: Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije University Amsterdam, 1081 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Annisa Ika Putri: Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije University Amsterdam, 1081 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Marjolein B. M. Zweekhorst: Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije University Amsterdam, 1081 Amsterdam, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-25

Abstract: This systematic review examines and consolidates existing evidence on stigma associated with the top four non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes—and its impact on the lives of people affected. We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed, PsycINFO, JSTOR, Science Direct, and Web of Science for original research in English that explored health-related stigma among people living with either of the four NCDs. A three-step integrative synthesis of data was conducted. Twenty-six articles (qualitative = 15; quantitative = 11) were selected, with most ( n = 15) related to cancers, followed by diabetes ( n = 7), chronic respiratory diseases ( n = 3), and cardiovascular diseases ( n = 1). Blame, shame, and fear were the main causes of stigma, the origin and nature of which differed according to the disease-specific features. The manifestations (enacted and felt stigma) and consequences (social, behavioral, psychological, and medical) of stigma across NCDs were similar. Inconsistencies existed in the conceptualization of stigma processes. To fill this gap, we developed an NCD-related stigma framework. People living with NCDs can experience stigma, which can negatively impact their health, management of their disease, and quality of life. The new framework can help in improving the understanding of the processes and experiences of stigma related to NCDs.

Keywords: stigma; discrimination; non-communicable disease; NCD; systematic review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/18/6657/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/18/6657/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:18:p:6657-:d:412712

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().