A Perspective on Monkeypox Related LGBT Phobia Among the General Public

Rinila Das; Swati Behera; Kumar  Sumit

doi:10.55489/njcm.141120233210

Authors

Rinila Das Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
Swati Behera Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
Kumar Sumit Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55489/njcm.141120233210

Keywords:

Fake news, HIV, LGBT-phobia, media, monkeypox, MSM, stigma

Abstract

Due to an upsurge in imported cases in the Western Pacific Region, the World Health Organization has proclaimed monkeypox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on July 23rd, 2022. The worldwide transmission of human monkeypox disease presents substantial healthcare concern. Similar to previous infectious disease outbreaks, conspiracy theories have also emerged in relation to the 2022 monkeypox outbreak, undermining health behaviors and amplifying the outbreak's impact. Fake news on social media worsens the monkeypox outbreak, silencing healthcare experts. The outbreak has stigmatized monkeypox, putting LGBTQI+ communities at increased risk. Unsurprisingly, the present outbreak is impacting a large number of homosexuals, bisexuals, and men who have sex with men, which may lead to increased discrimination and stigma towards this group, along with increased LGBT phobia among the general population. Such stigmatization lead to healthcare disengagement, increasing morbidity and mortality, significant physical, socio-economic, and psychological consequences for LGBTQ+ community. Monkeypox is manageable if transmission chains are broken, aided by accurate information to dispel outdated myths rooted in fear and sexual bias. A holistic, culturally-sensitive approach is vital to combat current monkeypox-related stigma, requiring government interventions and multi-stakeholder collaboration for a multidisciplinary strategy.

References

Raheel H, Raheel M, Ali Fahim MA, Naeem U. Monkeypox and spillover effects: Stigmas, solutions and strategies. Ann Med Surg [Internet]. 2022;81(July):104346. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104346

Farahat RA, Kadir AKMS. Monkeys and Monkeypox: Are we on the brink of another stigma? Ann Med Surg [Internet]. 2022;82(August):104583. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104583 PMid:36124217 PMCid:PMC9482118

Farahat RA, Head MG, Tharwat S, Alabdallat Y, Essar MY, Abdelazeem B, et al. Infodemic and the fear of monkeypox: call for action. Trop Med Health [Internet]. 2022;50(1):0-2. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-022-00459-8 PMid:36058955 PMCid:PMC9441321

Sah R, Mohanty A, Reda A, Padhi BK, Rodriguez-Morales AJ. Stigma during monkeypox outbreak. Front Public Heal. 2022;10. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1023519 PMid:36203672 PMCid:PMC9531705

Yang Z, Liu X, Zhu Z, Zhang L, Han S, Fu Y, et al. Combating Stigma and Health Inequality of Monkeypox: Experience from HIV. Infect Drug Resist. 2022;15(October):5941-3. Doi: https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S383471 PMid:36247736 PMCid:PMC9560863

Lee ACK, Morling JR. The global monkeypox outbreak: Germ panic, stigma and emerging challenges. Public Heal Pract. 2022;4. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhip.2022.100291 PMid:36246413 PMCid:PMC9535255

Sousa ÁFL de, Sousa AR de, Fronteira I. Monkeypox: between precision public health and stigma risk. Rev Bras Enferm. 2022;75(5):e750501. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167.2022750501pt

März JW, Holm S, Biller-Andorno N. Monkeypox, stigma and public health. Lancet Reg Heal - Eur [Internet]. 2022;23(October):100536. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100536 PMid:36338836 PMCid:PMC9618366

Turan JM, Elafros MA, Logie CH, Banik S, Turan B, Crockett KB, et al. Challenges and opportunities in examining and addressing intersectional stigma and health. BMC Med. 2019;17(1):1-15. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-018-1246-9 PMid:30764816 PMCid:PMC6376691

Scheffer M, Paiva VSF, Barberia LG, Russo G. Monkeypox in Brazil between stigma, politics, and structural shortcomings: have we not been here before? Lancet Reg Heal - Am [Internet]. 2023;17:100394. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2022.100394 PMid:36405886 PMCid:PMC9647415

Sallam M, Eid H, Awamleh N, Al-Tammemi AB, Barakat M, Athamneh RY, et al. Conspiratorial Attitude of the General Public in Jordan towards Emerging Virus Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study Amid the 2022 Monkeypox Outbreak. Trop Med Infect Dis. 2022;7(12). Doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7120411 PMid:36548666 PMCid:PMC9787389

Psychiatry.org. [cited 2023 May 28]. Available from: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/stigma-and-discrimination

UNHCR TU refugee agency. No Title [Internet]. Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Available from: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58736b5f4.html

Mendes WG, da Silva CMFP. Homicide of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, travestis, transexuals, and transgender people (LGBT) in brazil: A spatial analysis. Cienc e Saude Coletiva. 2020;25(5):1709-22. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232020255.33672019 PMid:32402041

Leite J. Bolsonaro insinua que quem se vacinar contra monkeypox é gay [Internet]. Terra. 2022 [cited 2023 May 28]. Available from: https://www.terra.com.br/nos/bolsonaro-insinua-que-quem-se-vacinar-contra-monkeypox-e-gay,92b8014c3d0ac1448d299df0b356b9a24x46yzp3.html

Kenyon C. Is Monkeypox Being Underdiagnosed in Countries with More Stigmatizing Attitudes towards Men Who Have Sex with Men? A Simple Ecological Analysis. Epidemiologia. 2022;3(3):363-8. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia3030028 PMid:36417244 PMCid:PMC9620899

Manirambona E, Shomuyiwa DO, Musa SS, Lucero-Prisno DE. Monkeypox among men who have sex with men in Africa: The need for testing and vaccination beyond stigma. J Med Virol. 2023;95(1):1-2. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.28121 PMid:36056579

Wiggins C. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweets Monkeypox disinformation [Internet]. Advocate.com. 2022 [cited 2023 May 28]. Available from: https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/7/25/rep-marjorie-taylor-greene-tweets-monkeypox-disinformation

Sekaran S, R Sekar SK. Enhancing awareness to break the stigma among LGBTQ+ health care workers to curb monkeypox transmission: correspondence. Int J Surg. 2023;Publish Ah. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/JS9.0000000000000220 PMid:36906792 PMCid:PMC10389340

Bragazzi NL, Khamisy-Farah R, Tsigalou C, Mahroum N, Converti M. Attaching a stigma to the LGBTQI+ community should be avoided during the monkeypox epidemic. J Med Virol. 2023;95(1). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.27913 PMid:35655436

Youssef D, Abboud E. Following the COVID19 playbook and battling another infodemic: Conspiracy beliefs around human Monkeypox among the Lebanese population. 2022; Doi: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2020448/v1