A Qualitative Study: Hypertension Stigma Among Black Women.
Willie M Abel, Telisa Spikes, Danice B Greer
PMID 33148961WHAT IT FOUND
Black women with hypertension described shame, silence, weight stigma, stereotype threat, and disrupted normality. 40% reported stigma or shame associated with high blood pressure.
Key findings
0140% (n=25) of participants reported stigma or shame associated with having high blood pressure.
02Five themes were identified: desire to get control, shame and embarrassment, obesity characterizations, stereotype threat, and disrupted normality.
0332% (n=8) of the stigma-believing group did not discuss their hypertension diagnosis with anyone.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The questionnaire method was less rigorous than interviews or focus groups and did not allow prompts for deeper answers. Some handwritten responses were difficult to read, and participants varied in writing skill. Data saturation could not be determined with this questionnaire method. The sample was mostly highly educated, middle and upper-income Black women from one geographic area, so it may not represent women with less education or lower income. This was a sub-study of a self-management program, so the findings are tied to women who completed the program and attended classes.
Declared interests
The supplied text lists research support from NIH extramural funding. No author conflict-of-interest statement is provided.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the 40% stigma finding or the five themes as evidence that a stigma-reduction intervention improves blood pressure control. This was a qualitative questionnaire sub-study, so it describes experiences and does not test treatment effectiveness.