Reducing stigma in reproductive health. 2014

Rebecca J Cook, and Bernard M Dickens
Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine, Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

Stigmatization marks individuals for disgrace, shame, and even disgust-spoiling or tarnishing their social identities. It can be imposed accidentally by thoughtlessness or insensitivity; incidentally to another purpose; or deliberately to deter or punish conduct considered harmful to actors themselves, others, society, or moral values. Stigma has permeated attitudes toward recipients of sexual and reproductive health services, and at times to service providers. Resort to contraceptive products, to voluntary sterilization and abortion, and now to medically assisted reproductive care to overcome infertility has attracted stigma. Unmarried motherhood has a long history of shame, projected onto the "illegitimate" (bastard) child. The stigma of contracting sexually transmitted infections has been reinvigorated with HIV infection. Gynecologists and their professional associations, ethically committed to uphold human dignity and equality, especially for vulnerable women for whom they care, should be active to guard against, counteract, and relieve stigmatization of their patients and of related service providers.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001294 Attitude to Health Public attitudes toward health, disease, and the medical care system. Health Attitude,Attitude, Health,Attitudes, Health,Health Attitudes,Health, Attitude to
D012725 Sexual Behavior Sexual activities of humans. Anal Sex,Oral Sex,Sexual Activity,Sexual Orientation,Premarital Sex Behavior,Sex Behavior,Sex Orientation,Sexual Activities,Activities, Sexual,Activity, Sexual,Behavior, Premarital Sex,Behavior, Sex,Behavior, Sexual,Orientation, Sexual,Sex, Anal,Sex, Oral
D012749 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Diseases due to or propagated by sexual contact. Venereal Diseases,STDs,STIs,Sexually Transmitted Infections,Disease, Sexually Transmitted,Disease, Venereal,Diseases, Sexually Transmitted,Diseases, Venereal,Infection, Sexually Transmitted,Infections, Sexually Transmitted,STI,Sexually Transmitted Disease,Sexually Transmitted Infection,Transmitted Infection, Sexually,Transmitted Infections, Sexually,Venereal Disease
D013240 Stereotyping An oversimplified perception or conception especially of persons, social groups, etc. Stigmatization
D057545 Social Stigma A perceived attribute that is deeply discrediting and is considered to be a violation of social norms. Stigma, Social,Social Stigmas,Stigmas, Social
D060728 Reproductive Health The state of the REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM when functioning optimally without evidence of disease, disorders, or deficiencies. Health, Reproductive
D034121 Reproductive Health Services Health care services related to human REPRODUCTION and diseases of the REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM. Services are provided to both sexes and usually by physicians in the medical or the surgical specialties such as REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE; ANDROLOGY; GYNECOLOGY; OBSTETRICS; and PERINATOLOGY. Health Service, Reproductive,Health Services, Reproductive,Reproductive Health Service,Service, Reproductive Health,Services, Reproductive Health

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