This paper used a qualitative research approach to explore the causes, manifestations and consequences of tuberculosis (TB) stigma in Tamale. It examined reasons why TB is stigmatised and elucidated how TB stigma manifests within the community setting and the healthcare system. It also explored the feelings and experiences of TB patients, to highlight how the fear of stigmatisation may affect case finding and treatment adherence.
Eight focus groups (6 with the community members, 1 with health workers, 1 with TB Patients. 40 individual interviews (20) community members, 10 with patients and 10 with health staff) were conducted. Data was analysed, using Grounded Theory techniques and procedures.
Eleven causes of TB stigma were identified: fear of infection; physical frailty of TB patients; association of TB with HIV/AIDS; perceived causes and spread of TB; outdated societal practices about TB; public health practice and discourse; attitudes of healthcare workers towards TB patients; health staff’s own fear of TB; self-stigmatisation by TB patients; judgment, blaming and shaming TB patients; and past experiences with TB. Elements of physical and moral threats were identified in all these causes of TB stigma. The threat the disease poses to community members led to imposition of socio-physical distance, participatory restrictions and rules for unexpected interactions on those suffering from TB in society. Within the healthcare system, the threat of TB affected the attitudes and behaviours of healthcare workers towards TB patients and TB work. Health managers also cited TB units/wards in isolated parts of the hospital, and failed to provide adequate tools and equipment, support and supervision to enable the provision of quality TB services. The fear of stigmatisation made the patients deny the obvious symptoms of the disease, and report to the hospital only after prolonged period of self-medication in the community.
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