ABSTRACT
Background: Stigma can be seen as a mark of disgrace that can lead to the separation of one person from another. In this qualitative study, we assess the status of stigma among in front-line health care workers (HCWs) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. Subjects and methods: The participants were selected from frontline HCWs related to COVID-19 in Imam Ali and Imam Hossein referral hospitals in Alborz province, Iran. Study was conducted between May and June 2020. The 32-item checklist Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) was used to report this qualitative study. Interview questions were prepared based on the grounded theory method. The thematic approach was used to analyze the data content. Data analysis was based on open and axial coding and after implementing the codes in MAXQDA software. Results: The results of this study included 4 themes, 8 categories and 33 sub-categories. Themes included extrinsic and intrinsic elements of stigma, perplexity and stigma removal requirements. Extrinsic elements included "creating blame and shame" and "discrimination" categories. Intrinsic elements included "the desire to be avoidance," "feeling depressed and frustrated" and "feeling anxious and scared" categories. Perplexity included "feeling loss" category. Stigma removal requirements included "factors causing stigma" and "protective agents against stigma" categories. Conclusion: Low public awareness on COVID-19 and inadequate public care, limited personal protective equipment and inadequate facilities for HCWs along with lack of appreciation for their efforts, lack of proper psychiatric/psychological counseling to identify and treat symptoms associated with mental health and the limitations of training to maintain mental health skills are considered to be factors in the formation of stigma among HCWs related to COVID-19. Health policymakers should implement coherent strategies related to increasing public awareness and providing personal protection needs and counseling care for HCWs in relation to COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
After the havoc created by Spanish flu a century ago, the world is witnessing exactly a similar pandemic situation since the beginning of the year 2020. The unexplained respiratory illness with high morbidity & mortality which started in Wuhan, China and spread across the world was finally termed as COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 and later announced as pandemic by WHO. This novel virus SARS-CoV-2 is a new variant of SARS corona virus with high infectivity and mysterious pathophysiology. The major step towards containment of this pandemic is to scale up the testing for SARS-CoV-2 and thereby isolating and managing the patients at the earliest. Molecular amplification based methods such a Real time Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), CBNAAT and TrueNAT are the most commonly used techniques for detection of SARS-CoV2. To utilize these diagnostic facilities optimally in the management of the suspected COVID 19 patients, it is of utmost importance for the healthcare providers to understand the intricacies related to these technologies. Thus, the technical details along with the pros & cons of these three amplification-based technologies for proper understanding of these diagnostic modalities for SARS COV-2 diagnosis are discussed herewith.