Stigmatization in Health and Disease

Illness, sickness, and suffering are three subjective classifications of an individual’s state of health. These subjective labels of health are often times immeasurable and based solely on feelings and perceptions. The problem with this is that within the health industry, biomedicine is sometimes considered the only form of legitimacy.  Time and again, health is determined on what doctors can measure and diagnosis along with what hospitals and medicine can cure. However we know in some cases, certain illnesses cannot be measured with numbers and statistics. As discussed in lecture, mental illnesses like ADHD and postpartum depression are highly subjective therefore society sometimes illegitimates the severity and even existence of these illnesses.

The article “Living Through a Staggering World: The Play of Signifiers in Early Psychosis in South India” discusses the stigma that gets embedded on those with mental illnesses like psychosis and schizophrenia. Those with psychosis find that their difficulties dealing with their illness are significantly magnified because their experiences with the illness are inexpressible (Corin et al 2007). Since these mental illnesses are based on perceptions, “normal” individuals are left in the unknown about these illnesses. Following, this unknown may lead them to stigmatize and develop their own notions and discourses on individuals with mental illnesses.  

http:///www.mentalhealthstigma.com/

Negative stigma on mental diseases in turn affects the course of the disorders because it affects how patients react to the illness (Corin et al 2007). The images above are from a 1999 New York Daily News editorial. Its portrayal of those with mental disorders as “crazies,” violent and people to be feared shows the influence that media has on shaping people’s opinions. Those with schizophrenia feel a sense of hostility and attack from the outside world derived from their own experiences (Corin et al 2007). These images exemplify how schizophrenics may feel like they are under attack by the rest of the world.

A similar situation that involves the stigma in health plagues developing countries like Tanzania. In countries where there are inadequate health services, poor maternal health care, and lack of knowledge, obstetric fistula is a huge medical and social problem for pregnant women, young and old. Obstetric fistula occurs when a fetus becomes stuck in a woman’s birth canal, causing her to stay in labor for too long causing tears in the bowel or urethra (2007). In a majority of the cases the baby dies and the mother suffers with leaking urine or feces (Engendered Health). Although this is disabling outcome is quite serious another issues stands in the way of these women. Just as context affected the course of experience for patients with a mental disorder, the cultural context of obstetric fistula affects these women living in these poor, rural areas. When corrective surgery isn’t an option these women become humiliated. Rukia Shabiby suffered through an obstetric fistula and states that “in the ensuing weeks, months and years, the odor and perception of uncleanliness led to her being shunned by the community” (2011). This is the stigma many like Rukia has to endure due to misconceptions about an unknown medical issue. Just as the mentally ill are perceived as violent, women with obstetric fistula are perceived as unclean in their communities. The social and cultural framework of disease and illness manages to alter the experience of these two groups of people.

Social stigma of these illnesses alienates these groups of people. The experience of these women and “the experience of psychosis is permeated by fear and confusion, radiating through the perceived world of suffering persons, infiltrating relationships with themselves and others.” This quote from “Living Through a Staggering World: The Play of Signifiers in Early Psychosis in South India” sums up the image and quote by Rukia in that public perceptions have the ability to manifest itself in the course of health and disease. When stigmatization occurs it ultimately affects how these individuals deal with themselves, others and if and how they will seek medical attention.

Ti Nguyen 

 http://www.ghfn.org/3-stories_videos-individual/dead-women-walking

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/74553.php

http://www.engenderhealth.org/pubs/maternal/risk-resilience-fistula.php

Corin, Ellen, Rangaswanu Tgaram and Ramachandran Padmavati. 2004. "Living Through a Staggering World: The Play of Signifier in Early Psychosis in South India."