
Using 15 DHS surveys to study epidemiological correlates of TB courtesy stigma and health-seeking behaviour
OBJECTIVE: To examine epidemiological, cultural and sociodemographic factors associated with TB courtesy stigma in 15 surveys across 13 countries, and its link to health seeking for cough in children under five.
DESIGN: A multilevel survey weighted logistic regression model was used to analyse how individual characteristics and social contexts affect the occurrence of TB courtesy stigma. The same modelling approach was used to analyse associations between TB courtesy stigma and individual-level predictors of health-seeking behaviour of mothers for children with cough.
RESULTS: TB courtesy stigma varies greatly among countries. TB courtesy stigma was negatively correlated with knowledge of TB's curability (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.82; 95%CI 0.78–0.86) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) accepting attitudes (proxy for HIV stigma) (aOR 0.15, 95%CI 0.15–0.16). Mothers' health-seeking behaviour for children under five with cough was found to be positively correlated with HIV accepting attitudes (OR 1.16, 95%CI 1.08–1.25), but was marginally affected by TB courtesy stigma (OR 0.99, 95%CI 0.98–1.00).
CONCLUSION: Improving the general awareness of the effectiveness of anti-tuberculosis treatment will help to diminish TB courtesy stigma, and should be prioritised over expanding knowledge of mode of transmission. Efforts to reduce HIV and TB stigma may increase care seeking for childhood TB symptoms.
Keywords: DHS; HIV stigma; TB courtesy stigma; health-seeking behaviour
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: KIT Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2: KIT Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, The Hague, The Netherlands 3: KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, The Hague, The Netherlands
Publication date: November 1, 2017
The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease publishes articles on all aspects of lung health, including public health-related issues such as training programmes, cost-benefit analysis, legislation, epidemiology, intervention studies and health systems research. The IJTLD is dedicated to the continuing education of physicians and health personnel and the dissemination of information on lung health world-wide.
To share scientific research of immediate concern as rapidly as possible, The Union is fast-tracking the publication of certain articles from the IJTLD and publishing them on The Union website, prior to their publication in the Journal. Read fast-track articles.
Certain IJTLD articles are also selected for translation into French, Spanish, Chinese or Russian. These are available on the Union website.
- Editorial Board
- Information for Authors
- Subscribe to this Title
- International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
- Public Health Action
- Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites