Perceived stigma among the patients of coronavirus disease-19 admitted at a dedicated COVID-19 hospital in Northern India: A cross-sectional study

Background: Coronavirus disease-related stigma started early in the pandemic with multiple media reports highlighting the discriminatory practices toward the health-care workers, patients, and survivors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a designated COVID -19 hospital in Delhi from 22 October 20 to 21 November 20. All patients admitted to the hospital for more than 72 h were eligible for participation in the study. Anyone without a mobile phone and not able to read was excluded from the study. The data were collected using a pretested, prevalidated questionnaire. Results: One hundred and twenty-two (92.4%) patients answered the questionnaire. All patients were male. A total of 54 (44.26%: 95% confidence interval [CI] 35.3–53.5) COVID-19 patients blamed themselves for getting the infection, compared to 68 (55.74% 95% CI: 46.5–64.7) patients who believed that acquiring the disease was not their fault. There was a statistically significant association between feeling ashamed and blaming themselves for COVID-19 (P = 0.046). A total of 19 (15.6%) have reported that they have been told that getting COVID-19 is your fault. Conclusion: The stigma related to COVID -19 needs to be tackled with multipronged strategy. In India, it is not a routine to assess mental health; however, the current pandemic has brought forward the importance of stigma and other related issues during the pandemic.