Open AccessA cross-sectional survey to assess the risk factors associated with stigmatizing attitudes towards patients with podoconiosis among rural youth in southern Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Kibur Engdawork,
Gail Davey,
Desta Ayode,
Colleen M. McBride,
Getnet Tadele
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
transactions of the royal society of tropical medicine and hygiene
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1878-3503
pISSN - 0035-9203
DOI - 10.1093/trstmh/traa091
Subject(s) - stigma (botany) , medicine , environmental health , social stigma , cross sectional study , public health , psychiatry , family medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , nursing , pathology
Many health conditions are associated with stigma due to beliefs about their causes and the physical changes experienced by patients. Among such conditions are several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Podoconiosis, classified as an NTD, is a form of lymphoedema caused by the co-influence of genetic and environmental factors. It is a major public health problem in Ethiopia and is associated with intense stigma. Despite this, little is known about the factors contributing to stigmatizing attitudes against patients with the disease.