Stigma is contagious
Regardless of the disease or health issue in question, stigma functions in much the same way. Abortion stigma shames and silences women seeking abortions and providers, and is a major contributor to unsafe and often lethal conditions for women. Even after abortion, women often keep it a secret, even from friends and family, for fear of how they might be treated–just as survivors of Ebola continue to battle the stigma long after they've recovered.