Foundation

COVID-19 had an impact on the population’ biopsychosocial state. Among attitudes and behaviors, discrimination manifested itself as one of the responses to different levels of personal and social interrelation.

Objective

to describe the discrimination perceived by patients being monitored for COVID-19.

Methods

descriptive and cross-sectional study, carried out from September 2021 to February 2022, in all patients monitored for COVID-19 (N=89) who live in Tajamar Regalado neighborhood (Tulcán, Ecuador). Through the survey, information was obtained on the variables: type of institution where they received medical follow-up, perception of discrimination, social support and community support.

Results

60.67% of patients reported that they almost always regretted having been infected with COVID-19; 59.55%, who always felt they were discriminated against for having suffered from the disease; 40.45%, who almost always considered it important to use protective measures to avoid further infections in their community; 48.31% stated that they almost always received counseling from health personnel; and 59.55% considered that their mental health was affected. Almost half of the patients expressed having received very bad social support, and 51.68% received bad social support from the authorities in particular.

Conclusions

during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was social rejection of infected patients, which caused effects on their mental health. A lack of support from the community and authorities was evident; and little counseling by health personnel.

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