"A cross-sectional study to assess stigma associated with tuberculosis in patients, family members, and health care staff in central India."

Background: Stigma poses significant challenges to tuberculosis control efforts worldwide. India, bearing a substantial burden of tuberculosis cases, grapples with pervasive stigmatizing attitudes towards the disease, hindering timely diagnosis and treatment. This study aims to assess the prevalence and manifestations of tuberculosis-related stigma, shedding light on a critical yet overlooked aspect of tuberculosis management.

Methods: After obtaining informed consent, 314 participants were taken and stratified equally into three groups: patients, family members, and healthcare workers. A pre-designed questionnaire was used to calculate prevalence and assess tuberculosis stigma across various domains. Data were compiled in MS-Excel and analyzed using EPI-Info 7 by the CDC.

Results: Among all 314 participants, the prevalence of stigma in this study was 26.75%. A statistically significant correlation was found between stigma experienced and marital status (p = 0.013) and level of knowledge regarding tuberculosis (p < 0.001). Among the patients of tuberculosis, the odds of facing stigma are 13.25 (C.I. 95% 4.14, 42.41) times higher in females and 3 (C.I. 95% 1.005, 8.95) times higher in patients with unsatisfactory knowledge about tuberculosis compared to males and patients with satisfactory knowledge, respectively.

Conclusion: Tuberculosis is stigmatized due to its deviation from societal norms. Societal norms dictate what is deemed acceptable or unacceptable. Females with tuberculosis encounter more stigma than males, and knowledge about tuberculosis affects stigma significantly. Patients mostly experience enacted and perceived stigma, while family members face perceived and secondary stigma. Healthcare workers tend to exhibit secondary stigma.