Rumour and social stigma as barriers to the prevention of coronavirus disease (COVID-19): What solutions to consider?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31646/gbio.78

Keywords:

Rumour, social stigma, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, prevention efforts

Abstract

Globally, multiple factors have elevated the risk and contributed to the fast spread of COVID-19. Alongside this, unsolicited rumours and social stigma are believed to be two possible barriers to the effective prevention of the disease. Despite measures taken, rumours and social stigma related to COVID-19 tend to increase globally. Several studies document that rumours and social stigma may fuel the risk and rapid spread of COVID-19. However, how these rumours and social stigma act as barriers to the prevention of the COVID-19 outbreak remain unclear. This article aims to discuss how rumours and social stigma can undermine the preventive and clinical efforts to fight against the spread of COVID-19 and suggest potential policy implications for addressing rumours and social stigma and optimising preventive efforts. A narrative review of secondary sources of data, including published studies, grey literature and authentic press reports was conducted. The analysis indicates that unverified rumours associated with COVID-19 may weaken people’s preparedness for a new infectious disease by driving them to wrong treatment and preventing them from adhering to evidence-based medical suggestions and treatment. Findings also suggest that social stigma may reduce healthcare workers’ agency and self-respect to provide support, treatment and care for those with COVID-19. Social stigma may also constrain participation in screening, testing, quarantine, isolation, and treatment of the disease. This article offers six potential policy pathways and emphasises the national and international coordination of all stakeholders for addressing rumours and social stigma associated with COVID-19.  

Author Biographies

Md. Nazmul Huda, University of New South Wales Green University of Bangladesh

Dr Md. Nazmul Huda is a health sociologist with a major in Sociology and Public Health. He has been working as a sessional academic in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine (SPHCM) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) since March 2019. He has also been a sessional academic in Sociology and Research Design and Statistics at the Australian Catholic University since 2018. He is currently working as a data quality analyst at the NSW Ministry of Health. Before coming to Australia, he was a full-time lecturer at the Green University in Bangladesh where he developed and delivered lectures on Introductory Sociology, Research Methodology, Statistics, and Demography at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Nazmul also worked as a sessional lecturer in Sociology at the Independent University Bangladesh above and beyond his involvement as a researcher in some international NGOs namely the Save the Children International and Action Aid. Nazmul was awarded a UIPA scholarship to undertake his PhD at SPHCM, UNSW and is currently waiting for the award of a PhD degree. The title of his PhD was “A mixed-methods study of sex work and HIV prevention environment in Bangladesh”. Nazmul’s research areas of interest include prevention and transmission mechanisms of HIV/AIDS, STI, and viral respiratory infections and community role in promoting sexual and reproductive health of vulnerable women. He is currently working on HIV, STI, and COVID-19 research projects in Australia and Bangladesh.

Syeda Zakia Hossain, The University of Sydney

Dr Syeda Zakia Hossain is a Health Sociologist and a Demographer. She is a recipient of AusAID and Rockefeller Foundation Fellowships. Her major research and teaching is in the areas of Health Sociology, Health and globalisation, International Health and Chronic diseases, research methods and statistics. The PhD thesis' she has supervised examines, Chronic diseases, such as Breast cancer awareness and breast screening, Diabetes management in Lebanese community, Stigma and HIV/AIDS; Media, HIV/AIDS education and young people; Acculturation and health and wellbeing of second generation Iranian in Australia. She has presented her research work in Global Health Conference, Washington DC, World Congress of Gerontology, World Congress of Sociology, Asia Pacific Sociological Association and The Australian Sociological Association international conferences. https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/schools/sydney-school-of-health-sciences/academic-staff/zakia-hossain.html

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Published

2020-09-15

How to Cite

Huda, M. N., Islam, R., Qureshi, M. O., Pillai, S., & Hossain, S. Z. (2020). Rumour and social stigma as barriers to the prevention of coronavirus disease (COVID-19): What solutions to consider?. Global Biosecurity, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.31646/gbio.78

Issue

Vol. 2 (2020)

Section

Rapid Reports and Perspectives From the Field

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Received 2020-06-14
Accepted 2020-09-01
Published 2020-09-15