Cultural epidemiology of TB with reference to gender in Bangladesh, India and Malawi

Weiss, M. G., Somma, D., Karim, F., Abouihia, A., Auer, C., Kemp, J. and Jawahar, M. S. (2008) 'Cultural epidemiology of TB with reference to gender in Bangladesh, India and Malawi'. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Vol 12, Issue 7, pp. 837-847.

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Abstract

SETTING: TB control programmes in Bangladesh, India and Malawi.
OBJECTIVE: To identify and compare socio-cultural features of tuberculosis (TB) and the distribution of TB-related experiences, meanings and behaviours with reference to gender across cultures in three high-endemic low-income countries.
DESIGN: Approximately 100 patients at three sites were interviewed with in-depth semi-structured Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC) interviews inquiring about patterns of distress, perceived causes and help-seeking behaviours in the context of illness narratives.
RESULTS: Female patients reported more diverse symptoms and men more frequently focused on financial concerns. Most patients reported psychological and emotional distress. Men emphasised smoking and drinking alcohol as causes of TB, and women in Malawi reported sexual causes associated with HIV/AIDS. In Bangladesh, exaggerated concerns about the risk of spread despite treatment contributed to social isolation of women. Public health services were preferred in Malawi, and private doctors in India and Bangladesh.
CONCLUSION: Cross-site analysis of these studies has identified features of TB that influence the burden of disease and are likely to affect timely help seeking and adherence to treatment. Health systems benefit from sex-disaggregated epidemiological data complemented by cultural epidemiological study, which together clarify the role of gender and contribute to the knowledge base for TB control at various levels.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	tuberculosis gender cultural epidemiology tb control dots treatment health-seeking behavior tuberculosis-control sex-differences south-india vietnam care population diagnosis lessons africa
Subjects:	WA Public Health > WA 30 Socioeconomic factors in public health (General) WA Public Health > Preventive Medicine > WA 110 Prevention and control of communicable diseases. Transmission of infectious diseases WA Public Health > WA 20.5 Research (General) WF Respiratory System > Tuberculosis > WF 200 Tuberculosis (General) WF Respiratory System > Tuberculosis > WF 205 Epidemiology WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries
Faculty: Department:	Groups (2002 - 2012) > Clinical Group
Depositing User:	Users 43 not found.
Date Deposited:	28 Jun 2010 10:37
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2018 13:00
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/659

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