Mistreatment in health care among women in Appalachia.
Healthcare-associated stigma can inhibit patients from seeking care. This study explored women’s negative experiences with healthcare providers in Appalachia. When seeking general health care, two-thirds of women reported mistreatment that made them not want to seek care in the future. When seeking care for contraception, one in six reported a negative, stigmatizing experience. Dehumanizing treatment, low-quality care, and healthcare misogyny were all identified as factors contributing to stigma.