Shepparton residents with COVID-19 symptoms are urged to be tested, after a new study revealed young and culturally diverse Victorians avoided testing due to shame and stigma.
The majority declined to get a test as they considered their symptoms unrelated to COVID-19, while 14 per cent weren’t tested because they had mild symptoms. Fear, anxiety and stigma were identified as common barriers for two key groups — young people and members of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Researchers said it was crucial members from both these groups went and got tested, or talked about getting tested, to normalise the process. Goulburn Valley Health public health unit operational director Julyan Howard emphasised being diagnosed with COVID-19 was not a reflection of a person’s character. “It is a result of normal social contact through daily activities,” he said.
“All communities should be encouraging testing and working to reduce undue associated blame, stigma and shame.”
Mr Howard urged anyone with even the mildest symptoms to get tested. “It is important for all of us to do our part and get tested, and vaccinated when possible, to keep ourselves, friends, families and communities safe,” he said.
The study noted participants were concerned about “sensationalised” media reports portraying people who tested positive to COVID-19 as selfish, irresponsible or reckless. Participants believed people who tested positive to the virus were also ‘bombarded with hate’ and publicly shamed.
GV Health primary care divisional director Julyan Howard, who is operations lead for the Hume contact-tracing team. Stigma could also come from within smaller community and family groups, particularly for some CALD communities.
Participants who were tested for the virus said they were often questioned on what they had been doing to get COVID-19, or with whom they had been spending time. This discouraged them from future testing. Language barriers for people who spoke a language other than English could also prevent community members from being tested.
Mr Howard said the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services was working closely with multicultural groups and community leaders to tailor messages specifically to CALD communities. These include how to stay safe, how to detect the symptoms of coronavirus and the importance of getting tested.
“Victoria’s cultural diversity is one of our greatest assets and as we know this virus doesn’t discriminate,” Mr Howard said.
As for young people, they said “COVID scares” at schools sparked intense focus on identifying the person who had tested positive, rather than concern for that person’s welfare. Young people also feared the impact a positive diagnosis could have on their employment and financial security, and how they would provide for themselves if forced to isolate.
From his vantage point at Wyndham House Clinic, Shepparton GP John Guymer said it was crucial people didn’t become complacent when it came to testing. “It’s not necessarily the stigma, but it’s just the bother — people have got to get the test done, take time off work and isolate until they get results back,” he said. “Plus a lot of people are reassured by all the negative tests (in Victoria), so it seems like the urgency to get tested isn’t there. “But if people don’t get tested, we won’t know if the virus is out there.”
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