Prevalence and factors associated with stigma among adults diagnosed with severe vision impairment in rural Mozambique
Summary
This article presents the results of a study conducted in northern Mozambique to investigate the little-understood issue of stigma associated with severe visual impairment. The study focused on adult patients diagnosed with operable cataracts in Nampula province and used an adapted scale to assess the participants for both internalised stigma (feelings of shame or self-blame) and experienced stigma (discrimination from others in the community). The results showed that experiencing stigma is extremely common, with 59% of participants reporting at least one stigmatising attitude. The study also established a strong link between these experiences and general wellbeing: patients with poor self-rated general health were significantly more likely to report both internalised and experienced stigma.
These findings confirm that stigma is a major concern for people diagnosed with severe vision impairment in rural Mozambique, highlighting the need for urgent, tailored interventions and support programmes.
This article is part of the supplement ‘Sightsavers at 75: delivering impact through health and inclusion research’ in the journal International Health, published in collaboration with the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in celebration of Sightsavers’ 75th anniversary.