| Abstract [eng] |
Research on stigma hiding motivation The disease- associated stigma can be particularly difficult. Not only are they at risk to develop other stress- related illnesses, but the clinical course of the stigmatised illness itself may be worsened. Other outcomes also affected, such as the ability to work or lead a normal social life. The fear of being labelled with the disease may cause individuals to delay or avoid seeking treatment. The outcome might be tragical, depending on the disease. Incontinence is wide spread stigmatising disease, which affects women more than men. To avoid disclosure, they are limiting their activities, stop working, refusing to have sex, getting depressed and lowered self –esteem. They are suffering from fear to be noticed wet, that somebody will smell, suffer that cannot control their blader, but they refuse to visit doctor and keep all that in secrecy even from own family. The aim of this quality research was to find out the motives to hide incontinence stigma. Quality semi- structured interviu was made with 12 women. Age mean – 50,5 years. Findings: the motives to hide incontinence stigma mainly are to keep up self – esteem, status and authority, to avoid shame; keep relationship with their family and group and to avoid rejection. In most cases, was found few related motives for stigma hiding. The results shows, that in the peoples mind incontinence is related with getting old. The women hide their stigma and do not seek the treatment also because of no trust to health care system or worry how to say about it to the doctor. Would be very beneficial if doctors would help their patients to get cured by asking them about the disease. To help situation we would recommend to inform people about incontinence as a disease, not related with getting old, and the ways to treat it. |
