Ea Dodor1. 1. Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Communicable Diseases Unit, P.O. Box 229, Sekondi, Ghana.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine how the activities and attitudes of health professionals expose TB patients to stigmatization in the community. DESIGN: Qualitative research approach using individual interviews and focus groups SETTING: Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan district in the western region of Ghana PARTICIPANTS: Members in nine communities in the district OUTCOME MEASURES: Words and statements that depict how activities and attitudes of health professionals may expose TB patients to stigmatization RESULTS: Five interrelated ways by which activities and attitudes of health professionals may expose TB patients to stigmatization in the community were identified in data: TB control practices; fear-based responses to TB; inappropriate health education messages; medical licensing for sellers; and prohibition of burial rites. CONCLUSIONS: The findings may explain the diagnostic delay and low TB case detection rate in Ghana. This calls for intensification of education on TB and regular organization of refresher courses and possibly retraining of health professionals in TB control and management. When health professionals are seen to be treating TB patients as 'normal' individuals, it has the potential of changing the society's perception about the disease.
OBJECTIVES: To determine how the activities and attitudes of health professionals expose TBpatients to stigmatization in the community. DESIGN: Qualitative research approach using individual interviews and focus groups SETTING: Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan district in the western region of Ghana PARTICIPANTS: Members in nine communities in the district OUTCOME MEASURES: Words and statements that depict how activities and attitudes of health professionals may expose TBpatients to stigmatization RESULTS: Five interrelated ways by which activities and attitudes of health professionals may expose TBpatients to stigmatization in the community were identified in data: TB control practices; fear-based responses to TB; inappropriate health education messages; medical licensing for sellers; and prohibition of burial rites. CONCLUSIONS: The findings may explain the diagnostic delay and low TB case detection rate in Ghana. This calls for intensification of education on TB and regular organization of refresher courses and possibly retraining of health professionals in TB control and management. When health professionals are seen to be treating TBpatients as 'normal' individuals, it has the potential of changing the society's perception about the disease.
Entities:
Keywords:
Tuberculosis; health professionals; stigma; tuberculosis control
Authors: Ibrahim Sendagire; Maarten Schim Van der Loeff; Andrew Kambugu; Joseph Konde-Lule; Frank Cobelens Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-05-02 Impact factor: 3.240