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Background <p>Stigma is a recurring challenge in epidemics, undermining disclosure, testing, and reintegration. During COVID-19 in India, little is known about how community perceptions translated into recovered participant´s experiences of stigma.</p> Methods <p>A multicentric qualitative study was conducted (September 2020–January 2021) across 18 districts in 7 Indian states. In depth telephone interviews were undertaken with 223 participants (136 community members, 87 recovered individuals). Data were analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s framework, with NVivo-assisted coding, reflexive journaling, and saturation checks to ensure rigour.</p> Results <p>Six major-themes were identified: fear and moralisation, institutional labelling, structural inequalities, economic and psychological harms, stigma within health-care interactions, and coping. Community fears of contagion and visible labelling (stickers, barricades, police visits) legitimised gossip and blame, which recovered participant´s described as persistent rejection, job loss, shop boycotts, and psychological distress. Stigma disproportionately affected informal workers, poorer households, and Muslim minorities, which was further fuelled by media portrayals. Coping relied on family support, while community members highlighted the role of health workers and positive media narratives in stigma reduction.</p> Discussion <p>Stigma during COVID-19 in India was socially produced and sustained by fear, institutional measures, and social hierarchies. These dynamics directly translated into recovered participant´s lived experiences, undermining both equity and epidemic control. Addressing stigma is therefore central to pandemic preparedness. Risk communication should avoid fear-based messaging, institutional protocols must protect confidentiality, and psychosocial support and equity monitoring should be embedded into preparedness frameworks.</p>

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Stigma and community responses among individuals recovered from COVID-19 in India

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月31日

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  • Sumit Aggarwal,
  • Senthanro Ovung,
  • Apoorva Sharma,
  • Aparna Joshi,
  • Vishal Diwan,
  • A. Stephen,
  • Kangjam Rekha Devi,
  • Bijaya Kumar Mishra,
  • Girijesh Kumar Yadav,
  • Sampada Dipak Bangar,
  • Damodar Sahu,
  • Tulsi Adhikari,
  • Saurabh Sharma,
  • Jeetendra Yadav,
  • Nongzaimayum Tawfeeq Alee,
  • Rajni Kant,
  • Seema Sahay,
  • Rajnarayan Ramshankar Tiwari,
  • Beena Elizabeth Thomas,
  • M. Vishnu Vardhana Rao,
  • Saritha Nair

摘要

Background

Stigma is a recurring challenge in epidemics, undermining disclosure, testing, and reintegration. During COVID-19 in India, little is known about how community perceptions translated into recovered participant´s experiences of stigma.

Methods

A multicentric qualitative study was conducted (September 2020–January 2021) across 18 districts in 7 Indian states. In depth telephone interviews were undertaken with 223 participants (136 community members, 87 recovered individuals). Data were analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s framework, with NVivo-assisted coding, reflexive journaling, and saturation checks to ensure rigour.

Results

Six major-themes were identified: fear and moralisation, institutional labelling, structural inequalities, economic and psychological harms, stigma within health-care interactions, and coping. Community fears of contagion and visible labelling (stickers, barricades, police visits) legitimised gossip and blame, which recovered participant´s described as persistent rejection, job loss, shop boycotts, and psychological distress. Stigma disproportionately affected informal workers, poorer households, and Muslim minorities, which was further fuelled by media portrayals. Coping relied on family support, while community members highlighted the role of health workers and positive media narratives in stigma reduction.

Discussion

Stigma during COVID-19 in India was socially produced and sustained by fear, institutional measures, and social hierarchies. These dynamics directly translated into recovered participant´s lived experiences, undermining both equity and epidemic control. Addressing stigma is therefore central to pandemic preparedness. Risk communication should avoid fear-based messaging, institutional protocols must protect confidentiality, and psychosocial support and equity monitoring should be embedded into preparedness frameworks.