A Macro-Micro Analysis of Stigma in Buruli Ulcer and Yaws in the Atwima Mponua District of Ghana
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2023-01
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
KNUST
Abstract
Stigma related to Neglected Tropical Diseases has been a global concern for several decades now. Notwithstanding, it has remained an issue, contributing to poorer health outcomes and posing a significant psychosocial burden on patients and their care-givers. However, studies have remained sparse and aimed at investigating stigma in selected singular diseases within limited social contexts. This study therefore aimed to holistically explore stigma associated with buruli ulcer and yaws. A concurrent mixed methods design was adopted. Three-hundred and eighty-four (384) community members from 16 communities within the Atwima Mponua district were surveyed to understand community knowledge, beliefs and attitudes reinforcing stigma. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted for 31 past and active buruli ulcer and yaws patients to explore the experiences, effects and coping strategies they used in managing stigma.
Misconceptions in community knowledge were associated with stigmatizing attitudes towards
patients. Levels and types of stigma however, varied between buruli ulcer and yaws. Common
manifestations of stigma were exclusion from group participation, name-calling, teasing,
discrimination and avoidance. Stigma experiences led to negative effects including psychosocial
burden, academic underachievement and strained social relationships between affected people and social groups. However, increased health seeking behavior was also recorded as patients sought to overcome disease stigma attaining cure. However, patients coped with stigma through
problem focused (concealment, confrontation, selective disclosure and information management) and emotion-focused strategies (religion and self-isolation), which contributed to mental health suffering among patients Education is required to increase community knowledge and awareness of skin NTDs. There is the need to incorporate and strengthen psychosocial measures in the management of affected persons
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Sociology and Social Work in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN SOCIOLOGY