Tuberculosis related stigma

Abstract

While tuberculosis is a preventable and curable disease, it still remains to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality across the world. Research reveals that stigma impacts tuberculosis control negatively through delaying diagnosis and impairing treatment compliance. It also causes enormous suffering since, it results with isolation of patients and their families from social life. In this review; the magnitude, origins, correlates and consequences of tuberculosis related stigma are discussed and some examples of public health interventions to combat stigma are presented.