Tuberculosis Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === Stigma === Slow progress in preventing the disease may in part be due to [[social stigma|stigma]] associated with TB.<ref name="EIU 2014"/> Stigma may be due to the fear of transmission from affected individuals. This stigma may additionally arise due to links between TB and poverty, and in [[AIDS in Africa|Africa, AIDS]].<ref name="EIU 2014"/> Such stigmatization may be both real and perceived; for example, in Ghana, individuals with TB are banned from attending public gatherings.<ref name="Courtwright 2010">{{cite journal | vauthors = Courtwright A, Turner AN | title = Tuberculosis and stigmatization: pathways and interventions | journal = Public Health Reports | volume = 125 | issue = 4_suppl | pages = 34β42 | date = JulβAug 2010 | pmid = 20626191 | pmc = 2882973 | doi = 10.1177/00333549101250S407 }}</ref> Stigma towards TB may result in delays in seeking treatment,<ref name="EIU 2014"/> lower treatment compliance, and family members keeping cause of death secret<ref name="Courtwright 2010"/> β allowing the disease to spread further.<ref name="EIU 2014"/> In contrast, in Russia stigma was associated with increased treatment compliance.<ref name="Courtwright 2010"/> TB stigma also affects socially marginalized individuals to a greater degree and varies between regions.<ref name="Courtwright 2010"/> One way to decrease stigma may be through the promotion of "TB clubs", where those infected may share experiences and offer support, or through counseling.<ref name="Courtwright 2010"/> Some studies have shown TB education programs to be effective in decreasing stigma, and may thus be effective in increasing treatment adherence.<ref name="Courtwright 2010"/> Despite this, studies on the relationship between reduced stigma and mortality are lacking {{as of|2010|lc=yes}}, and similar efforts to decrease stigma surrounding AIDS have been minimally effective.<ref name="Courtwright 2010"/> Some have claimed the stigma to be worse than the disease, and healthcare providers may unintentionally reinforce stigma, as those with TB are often perceived as difficult or otherwise undesirable.<ref name="EIU 2014"/> A greater understanding of the social and cultural dimensions of tuberculosis may also help with stigma reduction.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Mason PH, Roy A, Spillane J, Singh P | title = Social, Historical and Cultural Dimensions of Tuberculosis | journal = Journal of Biosocial Science | volume = 48 | issue = 2 | pages = 206β32 | date = March 2016 | pmid = 25997539 | doi = 10.1017/S0021932015000115 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page