The Relationship between COVID-19 associated Social Stigma and Health Seeking Behaviors among Older Adults | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Health Care | ||||
| Article 92, Volume 13, Issue 2, June 2022, Page 1258-1272 PDF (279.91 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejhc.2022.241344 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
| Reham Magdy Mohammed Abd Elsalam1; Samia El Husseini Abd El Mageed El Kholy1; Sahar Mohammed Abd El- Hamid El-Sakkar2 | ||||
| 1Assistant Professor Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University | ||||
| 2Clinical Instructor Community health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Damanhur | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Abstract: Some words (e.g., suspect case, isolation...) and languages used in discussions about COVID-19 might have a undesirable connotation for certain people, stimulating stigmatizing attitudes. COVID-19 social stigma can erode social cohesion and lead to older adults' social isolation. It has the potential to deter older individuals from seeking medical help right away and from adopting healthy habits. Aim: Determine the relationship between COVID-19 associated social stigma and health seeking behaviors among older adults. Design: the study followed a descriptive correlational research design. Setting: Farouk hospital outpatient clinics, affiliated to the Ministry of Health, Alexandria Governorate, Egypt. Subjects: Convenience sample of 170 older adults were recruited. Tools: Three tools were used for data collection: 1) Older adults' socio-demographic and health profile structured interview schedule, 2) COVID-19 associated social stigma among older adults structured interview schedule 3) Older adults' health seeking behaviors structured interview schedule. Results: the present study result revealed that the study subjects reported slightly low mean percent score of total COVID-19 associated social stigma, 45.77 ±15.86 with the highest mean percent score of stigmatized attitude towards treatment of COVID-19, 55.40 ±14.23. At the same time, the study subjects reported considerable high mean percent score of total health seeking behaviors, 71.73 ±9.22. Conclusion: Despite the present study revealed no statistically significant correlation between total mean percent score of COVID-19 associated social stigma and total mean percent score of health seeking behaviors among older adults, social stigma specifically related to the treatment of COVID-19 was negatively correlated with health seeking behaviors. On the other hand, a significant positive correlation was found between social stigma toward COVID- 19 patient and health seeking behaviors. Recommendations: Gerontological nurses should assist older adults in understanding the COVID-19 disease and taking effective and practical steps to protect themselves by seeking medical help. Gerontological nurses should also speak out against negative stereotypes and disseminate accurate information about the disease from credible, official sources. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| COVID-19; health seeking behaviors; older adults; social stigma | ||||
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