Stigma toward Worker with Occupational Diseases: A Qualitative Study

Özet

Objectives: Despite a growing awareness of the prevalence of such stigma, there is little research that focuseson the sources, nature and consequences of stigma workers with occupational diseases (OD), which directlyarises from risks in the workplace. The present study aims to advance knowledge related to stigma towardsworkers with OD, specifically to explain the nature and processes stigma and their effects on workers.Methods: This study was qualitative research. The workers with OD were selected to represent the most common diagnoses, then invited for an interview. Thirteen in-depth individual interviews were recorded, transcribed and evaluated using content analysis. The stigmatization was analyzed in two axes as its internal andexternal features.Results: A large diversity in the stigmatizing actions and attitudes toward workers with the occupational disease were identified in this study. It was observed that 12 (92.3%) participants had experienced internal andexternal stigmatization in work-life.Conclusion: In general, variables, such as the continuation of work, type of occupational disease, presenceof complaints and drug use due to illness, were revealed as factors determining the severity of stigma. If occupational health professionals are aware of the stigmatization due to occupational diseases, they may havean effective role in the workplace.