Unveiling the Hidden Barriers: A Review of Stigma Associated with Infectious Diseases and Its Impact on Prevention and Control

This review explores the influence of stigma on infectious diseases like tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections and its implications for public health efforts. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed articles provided data on stigma concepts, contributing factors, cultural and social conte...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ibrahim Awad Eljack Ibrahim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_52_25
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849471838862704640
author Ibrahim Awad Eljack Ibrahim
author_facet Ibrahim Awad Eljack Ibrahim
author_sort Ibrahim Awad Eljack Ibrahim
collection DOAJ
description This review explores the influence of stigma on infectious diseases like tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections and its implications for public health efforts. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed articles provided data on stigma concepts, contributing factors, cultural and social contexts, and health outcomes. Using tools like the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and CASP checklists, we assessed study quality and calculated odds ratios (ORs), confidence intervals (CIs), and P values to measure stigma’s impact. Among 35 included studies, findings reveal stigma in Saudi Arabia is deeply entrenched in cultural and social frameworks, contributing to delayed diagnosis (ORs 1.5–3.0, CIs 1.2–4.0, P < 0.01), reduced healthcare utilization, and poor outcomes. Key factors include misinformation, cultural beliefs, and fear of social rejection. Effective interventions such as public education, community engagement, and policy reforms are crucial. Addressing stigma through culturally sensitive public health strategies and policy advocacy is vital for improving disease prevention and control.
format Article
id doaj-art-d1813b06ada0424487ff98b8a114a99b
institution Kabale University
issn 0976-4879
0975-7406
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-d1813b06ada0424487ff98b8a114a99b2025-08-20T03:24:40ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences0976-48790975-74062025-05-0117Suppl 1S166S16810.4103/jpbs.jpbs_52_25Unveiling the Hidden Barriers: A Review of Stigma Associated with Infectious Diseases and Its Impact on Prevention and ControlIbrahim Awad Eljack IbrahimThis review explores the influence of stigma on infectious diseases like tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections and its implications for public health efforts. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed articles provided data on stigma concepts, contributing factors, cultural and social contexts, and health outcomes. Using tools like the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and CASP checklists, we assessed study quality and calculated odds ratios (ORs), confidence intervals (CIs), and P values to measure stigma’s impact. Among 35 included studies, findings reveal stigma in Saudi Arabia is deeply entrenched in cultural and social frameworks, contributing to delayed diagnosis (ORs 1.5–3.0, CIs 1.2–4.0, P < 0.01), reduced healthcare utilization, and poor outcomes. Key factors include misinformation, cultural beliefs, and fear of social rejection. Effective interventions such as public education, community engagement, and policy reforms are crucial. Addressing stigma through culturally sensitive public health strategies and policy advocacy is vital for improving disease prevention and control.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_52_25disease preventionhealth outcomesinfectious diseasessaudi arabiastigma
spellingShingle Ibrahim Awad Eljack Ibrahim
Unveiling the Hidden Barriers: A Review of Stigma Associated with Infectious Diseases and Its Impact on Prevention and Control
Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences
disease prevention
health outcomes
infectious diseases
saudi arabia
stigma
title Unveiling the Hidden Barriers: A Review of Stigma Associated with Infectious Diseases and Its Impact on Prevention and Control
title_full Unveiling the Hidden Barriers: A Review of Stigma Associated with Infectious Diseases and Its Impact on Prevention and Control
title_fullStr Unveiling the Hidden Barriers: A Review of Stigma Associated with Infectious Diseases and Its Impact on Prevention and Control
title_full_unstemmed Unveiling the Hidden Barriers: A Review of Stigma Associated with Infectious Diseases and Its Impact on Prevention and Control
title_short Unveiling the Hidden Barriers: A Review of Stigma Associated with Infectious Diseases and Its Impact on Prevention and Control
title_sort unveiling the hidden barriers a review of stigma associated with infectious diseases and its impact on prevention and control
topic disease prevention
health outcomes
infectious diseases
saudi arabia
stigma
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_52_25
work_keys_str_mv AT ibrahimawadeljackibrahim unveilingthehiddenbarriersareviewofstigmaassociatedwithinfectiousdiseasesanditsimpactonpreventionandcontrol