Cross-Sectional Survey of Healthcare Provisions for Female Tuberculosis Patients in Specialized Pulmonary Division from Low Socioeconomic Class in Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate various healthcare provisions for women affected with tuberculosis (TB) from low socioeconomic status and their health seeking behaviors, also whether or not patients feel stigmatized about their disease. Introduction: Pulmonary tuberculosis has more prevalence in Pakistan as compared to western countries where it occurs predominantly in the immunocompromised individuals and immigrants of certain countries. It is a contagious disease and Pakistan stands at the fifth position with maximum reported cases each year. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried at Gulab Devi Hospital, a public sector hospital located in Lahore, through a questionnaire-based survey followed by interviewing all participants. Two hundred seventy-seven female patients, who were already diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, were included in the study. The sample was drawn by non-probability, convenience sampling. Literacy, a major contributor to socioeconomic status