Central African Journal of Public Health

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The Impact of Stigma on the Healthcare of Tuberculosis Patients in Kitwe

Received: 22 October 2018    Accepted: 12 November 2018    Published: 26 December 2018
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Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is on the increase in Kitwe and TB related stigma makes it difficult to control the disease. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of stigma on the healthcare of patients suffering from tuberculosis. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study among TB patients registered at Buchi Small and Ipusukilo clinics. Simple random sampling method was used to select participants. A total of 115 questionnaires were distributed and all 115 were properly filled and returned. The study revealed that only 44.3% of the respondents had a high level of knowledge of TB. Stigmatization attitude was high among participants with 16.5% and 39.1% of the patients experiencing high and moderate stigma, respectively. 14.8% of the respondents reported having lost friend (s) and/or family and/or co-worker(s) because of their illness and 52.2% had had their illness used against them through verbal insults or being fired from their jobs. Furthermore, 44.3% of the patients felt like stopping taking their medication (even if the course of treatment had not been completed) once they felt better in order to free themselves from stigmatization and 40% felt disliked by the healthcare workers. Level of education correlated significantly with level of knowledge (P value = 0.002). Age showed strong relationships with level of stigma experienced by participants (P value = 0.004) and having feelings of stopping TB Treatment due to stigma (P value = 0.034). However, level of stigma experienced by patients did not show any significant relationship with level of education (P value = 0.764) or Religion (P value = 0.374). The study had noted the high level of stigma towards TB patients and its consequences on healthcare, especially on TB control. It is therefore recommended that health education programmes that aim at enriching the knowledge of TB and consequences of stigma be introduced and should carter for both the patients and the entire community.

DOI 10.11648/j.cajph.20180406.12
Published in Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 4, Issue 6, December 2018)
Page(s) 175-184
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Tuberculosis, Stigma, Healthcare, Buchi Small Clinic, Ipusukilo Clinic, Kitwe

References
[1] Ministry of Health (2013). The National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme: TB Manual, Ministry of Health, Zambia, 2013.
[2] Mtalimanja, J. L. (2014). Epidemiological Profile of Tuberculosis in Sinazongwe District in the Context of HIV/AIDS. A Dissertation Submitted to The University of Zambia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the award of the Degree of Masters of Science in One Health Analytical Epidemiology.
[3] Khalid, F. A., Frah, E. A. M., Osman, A. and Abdlhameed, T. (2014). Stigma towards Tuberculosis patients in Kassala, Sudan. International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1.
[4] Cremers, A. L., de Laat, M. M., Kapata, N., Gerrets, R., Klipstein-Grobusch, K., and Grobusch, M. P. (2015). Assessing the Consequences of Stigma for Tuberculosis Patients in Urban Zambia. PLoS ONE 10(3): e0119861. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0119861.
[5] Crosby, M. E. (2012). Exploring Stigma, Identity Gaps, and Consumption. Dissertation Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2012.
[6] Mekonnen, H. (2004). Stigma towards Tuberculosis Patients in Shasemene Town. A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Addis Ababa University in partial fulfillments of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Public Health in the Department of Community Health. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[7] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care accessed on 27th June, 2018.
[8] Kampekete, S. G. (2017). Accceptibility of Kangaroo Mother Care by mothers with premature babies: A case study of the women and newborn Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Midwifery and Women’s health, University of Zambia.
[9] Hamsho-Diaz, P. A. C. (2008). Stigma and Tuberculosis Contact Investigation: A Perspective on a Mexican Community in Central Florida. A Thesis Presented to The Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree of Master of Arts University of Florida 2008.
[10] Chikoya, M. M. (2000). Community awareness and response to pulmonary tuberculosis in urban Lusaka, Zambia. A dissertation submitted to the University of Zambia in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Public Health (MPH) of the University of Zambia.
[11] Omar, N., Bajwa, A., and Manzoor, I. (2017). Social Stigmatization in Tuberculous Patient: A Hospital Based Survey in Lahore, Pakistan. Department of Community Health Sciences, Fatima Memorial College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan. Accessed from www.pakmedinet.com on 25th May, 2018.
[12] Aryal, S., Badhu, A., Pandey, S., Bhandari, A., Khatiwoda, P., Khatiwada, P. and Giri, A. (2012). Stigma related to Tuberculosis among patients attending DOTS clinics of Dharan Municipality. Kathmandu Univ Med J 2012; 37(1)48-52.
[13] Kaona, F. A., Tuba, M., Siziya, S. and Sikaona, L. (2004). An assessment of factors contributing to treatment adherence and knowledge of TB transmission among patients on TB treatment. BMC Public Health 4: 68. PMID: 15625004.
[14] Patel, A., Gadhvi, V. and Gadhvi, M. (2015). Stigma and discrimination among tuberculosis patients registered at Asarwa DOTs center, Ahmedabad. International Journal of Medical and Health Research, Volume 1; Issue 4; November 2015; Page No. 136-138. Accessed from www.medicalsciencejournal.com on 15th May, 2018.
[15] Tadesse, S. (2016). Stigma against Tuberculosis Patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. PLoSONE 11(4): e0152900. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0152900.
[16] Dodor, E. A. (2009). An exploration of the causes, manifestations and consequences of tuberculosis stigma in an urban district in Ghana. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham. Accessed from the University of Nottingham repository: http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/10846/1/Dr_EA_Dodor_Submitted_Version_of_PhD_Thesis.pdf on 25th May, 2018.
[17] Kapata, P. Chanda-Kapata, and C. Michelo (2013). The social determinants of tuberculosis and their association with TB/HIV co-infection in Lusaka, Zambia. Medical Journal of Zambia, Vol. 40, No. 2 (2013).
Author Information
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia

  • Department of Biological Sciences, School of Mathematics & Natural Sciences, Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia

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    Evaristo Chanda, Alfred Matafwali Sichilima. (2018). The Impact of Stigma on the Healthcare of Tuberculosis Patients in Kitwe. Central African Journal of Public Health, 4(6), 175-184. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20180406.12

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    Evaristo Chanda; Alfred Matafwali Sichilima. The Impact of Stigma on the Healthcare of Tuberculosis Patients in Kitwe. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2018, 4(6), 175-184. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20180406.12

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    AMA Style

    Evaristo Chanda, Alfred Matafwali Sichilima. The Impact of Stigma on the Healthcare of Tuberculosis Patients in Kitwe. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2018;4(6):175-184. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20180406.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.cajph.20180406.12,
      author = {Evaristo Chanda and Alfred Matafwali Sichilima},
      title = {The Impact of Stigma on the Healthcare of Tuberculosis Patients in Kitwe},
      journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {4},
      number = {6},
      pages = {175-184},
      doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20180406.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20180406.12},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20180406.12},
      abstract = {Tuberculosis (TB) is on the increase in Kitwe and TB related stigma makes it difficult to control the disease. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of stigma on the healthcare of patients suffering from tuberculosis. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study among TB patients registered at Buchi Small and Ipusukilo clinics. Simple random sampling method was used to select participants. A total of 115 questionnaires were distributed and all 115 were properly filled and returned. The study revealed that only 44.3% of the respondents had a high level of knowledge of TB. Stigmatization attitude was high among participants with 16.5% and 39.1% of the patients experiencing high and moderate stigma, respectively. 14.8% of the respondents reported having lost friend (s) and/or family and/or co-worker(s) because of their illness and 52.2% had had their illness used against them through verbal insults or being fired from their jobs. Furthermore, 44.3% of the patients felt like stopping taking their medication (even if the course of treatment had not been completed) once they felt better in order to free themselves from stigmatization and 40% felt disliked by the healthcare workers. Level of education correlated significantly with level of knowledge (P value = 0.002). Age showed strong relationships with level of stigma experienced by participants (P value = 0.004) and having feelings of stopping TB Treatment due to stigma (P value = 0.034). However, level of stigma experienced by patients did not show any significant relationship with level of education (P value = 0.764) or Religion (P value = 0.374). The study had noted the high level of stigma towards TB patients and its consequences on healthcare, especially on TB control. It is therefore recommended that health education programmes that aim at enriching the knowledge of TB and consequences of stigma be introduced and should carter for both the patients and the entire community.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Impact of Stigma on the Healthcare of Tuberculosis Patients in Kitwe
    AU  - Evaristo Chanda
    AU  - Alfred Matafwali Sichilima
    Y1  - 2018/12/26
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.cajph.20180406.12
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    JF  - Central African Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Central African Journal of Public Health
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20180406.12
    AB  - Tuberculosis (TB) is on the increase in Kitwe and TB related stigma makes it difficult to control the disease. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of stigma on the healthcare of patients suffering from tuberculosis. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study among TB patients registered at Buchi Small and Ipusukilo clinics. Simple random sampling method was used to select participants. A total of 115 questionnaires were distributed and all 115 were properly filled and returned. The study revealed that only 44.3% of the respondents had a high level of knowledge of TB. Stigmatization attitude was high among participants with 16.5% and 39.1% of the patients experiencing high and moderate stigma, respectively. 14.8% of the respondents reported having lost friend (s) and/or family and/or co-worker(s) because of their illness and 52.2% had had their illness used against them through verbal insults or being fired from their jobs. Furthermore, 44.3% of the patients felt like stopping taking their medication (even if the course of treatment had not been completed) once they felt better in order to free themselves from stigmatization and 40% felt disliked by the healthcare workers. Level of education correlated significantly with level of knowledge (P value = 0.002). Age showed strong relationships with level of stigma experienced by participants (P value = 0.004) and having feelings of stopping TB Treatment due to stigma (P value = 0.034). However, level of stigma experienced by patients did not show any significant relationship with level of education (P value = 0.764) or Religion (P value = 0.374). The study had noted the high level of stigma towards TB patients and its consequences on healthcare, especially on TB control. It is therefore recommended that health education programmes that aim at enriching the knowledge of TB and consequences of stigma be introduced and should carter for both the patients and the entire community.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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