New research from the Reducing Ethical and Social Prejudicial Effects of COVID-19 Testing in Underserved Populations (RESPECT-UP) study—led by MHERC Member, Gabriela Oates, Ph.D.—adapted existing scales to create a new measure for COVID-19 stigma attitudes and perceptions. RESPECT-UP includes a multidisciplinary team of UAB investigators focused on reducing stigma, discrimination, and adverse social factors affecting COVID-19 testing.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the significant disparities in health and access to healthcare in underserved communities. In response, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics in Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) initiative, funding eight national grants to explore the social, ethical, and behavioral factors affecting COVID-19 testing in these at-risk communities. Oates, who is an Associate Professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, was awarded one of these grants. Her research team includes Raegan Durant, MD, MPH; Janet Turan, Ph.D., MPH; Lori Bateman, Ph.D., RD; and Mona Fouad, MD, MPH, all affiliated with the Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center (MHERC).
To better understand the role of stigma in COVID-19 testing, the researchers adapted and validated two scales from HIV stigma to measure COVID-19 stigma. They focused on two key areas: (1) negative attitudes toward people who get COVID-19, and (2) perceptions of stigma experienced by those with the virus in their communities. Data was obtained from a community-based survey of 302 African American residents of select neighborhoods in one urban and one rural county in Alabama.
To refine the scales, the research team employed rigorous analytical methods. The final scales showed strong reliability and validity, making them a valuable tool for future research and public health programs. The new scales of COVID-19 stigma attitudes and perceptions can help identify barriers to testing and offer insights about the uptake of preventive measures in both current and future health crises.
By addressing COVID-19 stigma, this study is a step toward improving public health responses in underserved communities and reducing health disparities.
You can read the full publication in the journal Stigma and Health.
Turan, J. M., Crockett, K. B., Kim, Y.-i., Ryan, M., Ramachandran, R., Bateman, L. B., Durant, R. W., & Oates, G. R. (2024). Adaption and validation of scales to measure COVID-19 stigma attitudes and perceptions. Stigma and Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000555