stamp out stigma in kenya by vijay narayanan
TRANSCRIPT
Dr. Vijay NarayananMBBS MD MA MPhil PG Dip Pall .care
Clinical Director, Cancer Care Kenya
What is Stigma?
“A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or
person“. (Oxford dictionary)
Who is a stigmatized person? A stigmatized person is a person whose social identity, or
membership in some social category calls into question his or her full humanity-the person is devalued, spoiled or flawed in the eyes of others .Crocker, Major and Steele (1998)
Stigma will lead to ‘Negative evaluation’ Negative evaluations may be “felt” or“ enacted”. A felt negative evaluation is internalised and may lead to shame
or guilt associated with having a condition and to the fear of being discriminated against on the grounds of social unacceptability because of that condition.
An enacted negative evaluation refers to actual discrimination.
Types of stigma
An abomination of body Blemishes of individual moral character Tribal stigma
Elements of stigma
The problem of Knowledge – ignorance The problem of Attitudes – prejudice The problem of Behaviour - discrimination
Consequence of stigma
Stigma / fear of being stigmatised can result in people with cancer not getting help and having reduced self-esteem or confidence.
They can become socially isolated and excluded from society – none of which helps them cope with their illness or recover.
Cancer and Stigma
The word ‘cancer’ was once considered unacceptable in the public sphere, and even today, euphemisms such as ‘the Big C’ are common.
Polls in the US and Europe find that at least half the population say they fear cancer more than any other disease.
Around a third to a fifth say they fear cancer more than other potential catastrophes, such as violent crime, debt, and losing a job
What others do :
OCTOBREAST PINK RIBBON Breast cancer awareness month-
BCAM BCAM- is an annual international
health campaign BCAM-organized by major
breast cancer charities every October
BCAM- helps to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.
What others do:
Movember movement www.movember.com
The goal of Movember is to "change the face of men's health- esp. Prostate cancer, Testicular cancer
Movember challenges men to grow a moustache for the 30-days of November, thereby changing their appearance and the face of men’s health.
In October Mo Bros sign up at movember.com, and on the 1st November start their moustache growing journey with a clean shaven face.
What others do :
BEATING BOWEL CANCER
DECEMBEARD
BBC –extends support to patients living with bowel
BBC-provides a dedicated nurse helpline BBC –gives free informational material for
patients in hospital at different stages of their diagnosis and disease
What others do :www.baldcartoons.com
‘Bald cartoon movement’ Started in Brazil Started to help children
with cancer with their experience of undergoing chemotherapy and losing their hair.
The campaign centres on well-known cartoons from around the world that have been redrawn without any hair
The idea that “a child with cancer deserves to be seen just like any other child
Cancer in childhood:
Cancer ribbons
How to stamp out Stigma: Few suggestions
Health care professional Patient
Reduce stigma to yourself Share with those you trust Read about others
www.livestrong.org
Diagnosis and disclosure Information needs Support Raising awareness Expose frauds- Jicho Pevu
Oncology health care professionals’ attitudes to cancer:a professional concern
Regardless of gender, profession and clinical experience, all health care professionals display persistently negative attitudes towards cancer.
Need for radical change in the attitude of health care professionals towards cancer -to provide optimal care for this clinical population.
Changing these attitudes presents oncology health care professionals with a challenge that can no longer be ignored.
N Kerney, M Miller et al, Annals of Oncology 14: 57–61, 2003
Challenges
Political harassment Health care discrimination Poor welfare systems Banalization of sufferings Wearing down of families Gender inequality Human rights violation Donor/media discrimination Lack of knowledge, research and hope.
It is our responsibility to stamp out STIGMA of cancer
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world”
Mahatma Gandhi