KHRC Researchers investigate avoidance and discrimination against persons suspected of COVID-19 in latest publication.

February 01, 2023 | Blog | Reading time: 3 min

Researchers from the Kintampo Health Research Centre have published a paper titled “I don’t want to have anything to do with someone suspected of COVID-19”: a genuine infection avoidance interests or inappropriate concerns related to stigma?

The paper published in the Journal of Public Health in Africa sought to investigate avoidance and discrimination against persons suspected of COVID-19 in a predominantly rural setting in the Bono East Region of Ghana.

The Researchers are Dr. Sulemana Abubakari, Edward Apraku, Solomon Nyame, Francis Agbokey, Dr Samuel Afari-Asiedu, Stephaney Gyaase, Dr. Thomas Gyan, Lawrence Gyabaa Febir; Livesy Abokyi and Dr. Kwaku Poku Asante.

The findings showed that majority (60%) of the respondents agreed that they won’t have anything to do with someone suspected of COVID-19. However, 67% of them were willing to accommodate persons that recovered from the infection. Majority (91%) of respondents agreed that there is a need to adopt tolerant attitude towards persons who recovered from the infection, whilst another 98% also reported the need to show compassion towards persons who recovered from COVID-19.

The study concludes that there is a high-level avoidance of persons suspected of COVID-19, but little or no discrimination of those who recovered from the infection.

This publication is accessible at: https://www.publichealthinafrica.org/jphia/article/view/2099