Fear of COVID‐19 and stigmatization towards infected people among Jordanian people

Abuhammad, Sawsan; H Alzoubi, Karem; Khabour, Omar

AIM: This study aims to explore the prevalence rates of stigma and fear among people in Jordan during COVID‐19 pandemic and to assess socio‐demographic and personal factors contributing to the prevalence rates of fear and stigma among people in Jordan during COVID‐19 pandemic. METHOD: Cross‐sectional descriptive design was utilized to attain the study aim. An anonymous online survey targeting people of Jordan was used and distributed to adults in Arabic language. The survey included a previously validated fear scale. Stigma was measured using developed instrument by authors. RESULTS: The prevalence of fear among study participants was 52%. In addition, the prevalence of stigma towards infected people and their contact was 64%. The predictors of stigma towards infected people with COVID‐19 and their contact were income, living area and downloaded application to trace COVID‐19 cases. Moreover the predictors of fear were income living area and downloaded application to trace COVID‐19 cases (P ≤ .001). CONCLUSION: More than 50% of the respondents were afraid from COVID‐19 and 64% had stigma towards infected people and their contact during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The present study highlights the need for an intervention that provides psychological support to citizens during the pandemic.