Women`s Health and Stigmatization: A Systematic Review

Authors : Elif Balkan, Nevin Hotun Şahin

Pages : 269-281

Doi:10.61399/ikcusbfd.1353825

View : 87 | Download : 64

Publication Date : 2025-06-14

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :Objective: To evaluate the results of studies dealing with the stigmatization experiences of women. Materials and Method: A literature search was conducted in the databases of Pubmed, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, ScienceDirect from March 10 to 20, 2022, using the keywords \\\"women and stigma\\\" in the article titles. Out of the 1,160 articles accessed, 839 were excluded based on the initial eligibility criteria. The contents of the remaining 321 articles were examined. From the 55 articles deemed suitable for the subject, those whose full texts were inaccessible or were written in languages other than English or Turkish were excluded. After applying the inclusion criteria, nineteen studies were included in the systematic review. Results: It was determined that women face due to various issues, including obesity, sexual identity and orientation, infertility, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, abortion, and other related challenges. Furthermore, the stigma experienced by women contributes to feelings of hopelessness, depression, deterioration of interpersonal relationships, and increased vulnerability to violence. Conclusion: It is crucial to enhance societal awareness regarding the prevention of the stigmatization of women by identifying the issues they face. Educating the public about stigmatization and its consequences is essential, as is the development and implementation of strategies to prevent discrimination against women in government policies and health services.
Keywords : Sosyal damgalanma, kadın sağlığı hizmetleri, sosyal ayrımcılık

ORIGINAL ARTICLE URL