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•Little is known about weight-based discrimination on social media.•We analyzed reactions to tweets related to fatphobia, body shaming, and similar terms.•Tweets with discriminating ...terms gained more likes and retweets than the control.•Almost 2/3 of tweets related to weight-based discrimination had a negative sentiment.
We aimed to analyze reactions to tweets that employed weight-based discrimination terms and to compare them to others posted by the same users on X (formerly Twitter).
We collected tweets featuring weight-based discrimination terms (the study group) and created a control group by randomly selecting up to five tweets from each account that did not mention any such terms. Descriptive statistics, sentiment analysis, and logistic regression modeling were used to compare the numbers of likes and retweets of the study and control groups, and to understand the emotions associated with these tweets.
Our analysis included 22,075 study group tweets and 50,341 control group tweets. Sentiment analysis was conducted on 41,403 (57.2%) tweets, with 65.7% of the study group tweets being found to contain negative sentiments. The study group had a higher median of likes (1 0–4) and retweets (0 0–0) than the control group (1 0–2 and 0 0–0, respectively, with the study group obtaining higher mean ranks in both comparisons, P < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that tweets using weight-based discrimination terms gained more likes (OR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.16–1.28) and retweets (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.49–1.74), independent of, for example, verification status, follower count, year and season of the tweet, and emotional expression of the tweet.
Tweets concerning fatphobia, body shaming, and similar terms gain more reactions than others posted by the same accounts.
AbstractThis introduction to
highlights and expands four articles within this issue that propose somewhat new and radical innovations to help and further the interests of patients and families worst ...off. One article urges us to enable historically marginalized groups to participate more than they have in research; a second urges us to allocate limited resources that can be divided, such as vaccines and even ventilators, in a different way; a third urges us to help families find greater meaning when their loved ones are dying; and a fourth urges us to treat patients who illegally use drugs as caringly as is possible, though there may be limits to what providers can do. This piece also addresses the importance of providers bonding with patients, recognizing that some providers may be better at eliciting patients' trust than others, and thus the importance of connecting these patients with these providers since this may be the sole way these patients can optimally respond and do well. Finally, providers taking time away from their patients to oppose and reduce social stigma is considered.
The stigma associated with monkeypox (mpox) may prevent people from following recommended guidelines. Using a “model of stigma communication,” this study maps and determines the mpox stigma on ...Twitter among LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and more) community.
The tweets that contained the terms ‘#monkeypox’, ‘#MPVS’, ‘#stigma’, and ‘#LGBTQ+’ and were published between May 01, 2022 and Sept 07, 2022 were extracted. For sentiment analysis, the VADER, Text Blob, and Flair analysers were implemented. This study evaluated the dynamics of stigma communication based on the “model of stigma communication”. A total of 70,832 tweets were extracted, from which 66,387 tweets were passed to the sentiment analyser and 3100 tweets were randomly selected for manual coding. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) criteria was adopted to report this study.
This research provided insight on the cause, communication, and patterns of mpox stigma in the LGBTQ+ community. In the community, stigmatisation was influenced by the group's labelling as the source of monkeypox. Some users believed that mpox resembled previously observed diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19. Despite officials and media outlets disseminating information about preventing mpox and stigmatisation, a number of individuals failed to comply. The LGBTQ+ community faced peril in the form of violence due to escalating stigma. Misinformation and misinterpretation spread further stigmatisation.
This study indicates that authorities must address misinformation, stigmatization of the LGBTQ+ community, and the absence of a comprehensive risk-communication plan to improve the system. The effects of stigmatization on the vulnerable population must be handled in conjunction with a well-developed risk communication plan, without jeopardizing their wellbeing.
INTRODUCTION: Neuropsychiatric disorders contribute for 13% of the total morbidities globally. In 2017, a study revealed that 14% of the Indian Population suffered from psychiatric health problems. ...The WHO estimates 2443 DALYs (Disability adjusted life years) per 100000 population in India due to psychiatric problems. The non-availability of mental health services, stigma, and superstitions associated with mental disorders, along with the unwillingness or inability of families to care for their mentally ill relatives, appear to be major cause behind delay in approaching a psychiatrist. These factors act as major barriers in the pathways of care for these patients, thereby increasing the unmet need. An understanding of the way people seek care for mental disorders is important for implementing mental health services, and developing effective referral mechanisms. Hence this study was taken up with the objectives.
OBJECTIVEs: To determine health-care seeking pathways of psychiatry patients using WHO pathways of care proforma and to explore the social and cultural determinants of health-care seeking behaviour in them.
METHODOLOGY: This exploratory cross-sectional study includes newly diagnosed psychiatry patients (ICD-10), visiting psychiatry OPD in a private medical college in Bagalkot, North Karnataka, India. Sample size for proportion was calculated to be 340 ~350, taking 33% as P (Pilot study) and at 5% absolute precision at 95% confidence level. Written Informed consent were obtained from the study participants or from the patient attenders, in case of inability to give informed consent. Predesigned and pretested proforma were used for obtaining socio-demographic details of subjects. Patients were examined and diagnosed by the Psychiatrist (Principal Investigator). World Health Organisation (WHO) pathways to care proforma were used to obtain the health-care seeking behaviour of these study subjects. Statistical analysis will be done using SPSS software version19 and appropriate statistical tests will be applied.
RESULTS: In the pilot study, we observed that about 32% of patients firstly approached medical practitioners, followed by psychiatrists and faith healers. An average delay of 24 months was found in reaching psychiatric services.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a substantial delay in health-care seeking of psychiatry patients to psychiatrist, as per the pilot study. Further completion of this study is required to understand the extent of the problem, and socio-cultural factors leading to such delay. Generating awareness among the general public to address cultural myths and stigma related to psychiatric illnesses is required
This study aims to advocate for the acknowledgment of the services of invisible hands that do pro-environmental work, despite living in post-conflict trauma themselves. These “accidental ...sustainopreneurs” earn a living while helping societies become more sustainable. Their work for both upstream manufacturers and downstream consumers serves as a stepping stone toward the introduction of cleaner production across waste value chains in developing countries. They have positive effects on multiple recycling sectors, and their transition to formal, integrated solid waste management is the objective of this study. Inductive qualitative research design is employed to examine how these entrepreneurial agents work in unpredicted ways to create value for society while being stigmatized by focusing specifically on the case of waste picker sustainopreneurs registered with the Water and Sanitation Services in Pakistan (WSSP). The findings of this study suggested that a whopping 99% majority of such workers pretend as if none of their kind exist, possess dual identities, and are stigmatized due to refugee backgrounds. Using the social construction of stigma lens, their identities have been stigmatized amidst their burden of complementing the work of local MSWM authorities. In addition, the findings regarding unpredictable weather patterns, lack of assets, seasonal shocks, uncertain policies, rules of business, and the exploitative subletting of waster picker jurisdictions are reported. This study provides a more thorough understanding of their self-organized work context, an understanding of policies, and the higher survival skills and immunity levels of these workers, even in the absence of safety equipment and measures. This study demonstrates how self-organizing, low-tech, informal solutions can act as a foundation toward cleaner productions and environmental sustainability.
Infodemics, often including rumors, stigma, and conspiracy theories, have been common during the COVID-19 pandemic. Monitoring social media data has been identified as the best method for tracking ...rumors in real time and as a possible way to dispel misinformation and reduce stigma. However, the detection, assessment, and response to rumors, stigma, and conspiracy theories in real time are a challenge. Therefore, we followed and examined COVID-19-related rumors, stigma, and conspiracy theories circulating on online platforms, including fact-checking agency websites, Facebook, Twitter, and online newspapers, and their impacts on public health. Information was extracted between December 31, 2019 and April 5, 2020, and descriptively analyzed. We performed a content analysis of the news articles to compare and contrast data collected from other sources. We identified 2,311 reports of rumors, stigma, and conspiracy theories in 25 languages from 87 countries. Claims were related to illness, transmission and mortality (24%), control measures (21%), treatment and cure (19%), cause of disease including the origin (15%), violence (1%), and miscellaneous (20%). Of the 2,276 reports for which text ratings were available, 1,856 claims were false (82%). Misinformation fueled by rumors, stigma, and conspiracy theories can have potentially serious implications on the individual and community if prioritized over evidence-based guidelines. Health agencies must track misinformation associated with the COVID-19 in real time, and engage local communities and government stakeholders to debunk misinformation.
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