A qualitative exploration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender-based violence against women living with HIV or tuberculosis in Timor Leste.

Violence against women or gender-based violence (GBV) is a significant public health issue facing women and girls in different settings. It is reported to have worsened globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on increased violence against women in general, which has been reported in many settings globally, there is a paucity of evidence of its impact on violence against highly vulnerable women living with HIV or tuberculosis (TB). Using a qualitative design, this study aimed to explore the views and experiences of women living with HIV (n = 19) or TB (n = 23) in Timor Leste regarding the GBV they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were recruited using the snowballing sampling technique. Data were collected using one-on-one, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The five steps of qualitative data analysis suggested in Ritchie and Spencer's analysis framework were employed to guide the analysis of the findings. Findings indicated that women in this study experienced intensified physical, verbal, sexual and psychological violence by their partners, spouses, in-laws, and parents or other family members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several prominent risk factors that worsened violence against women during the pandemic were (i) HIV or TB-positive status, (ii) traditional gender roles or responsibilities and expectations, (iii) economic and financial difficulties reflected in the loss of jobs and incomes due to the pandemic, and (iv) individual factors such as jealousy and increased alcohol drinking developed during the lockdowns. The women's experience of GBV during the pandemic also led to various negative psychological impacts. The findings underscore the urgent need for multifaceted interventions to address GBV, which should encompass challenging traditional gender norms, addressing economic inequalities, and targeting individual-level risk factors. The findings also indicate the need for the development of robust monitoring and evaluation systems to assess the effectiveness of policies and interventions addressing GBV where the results can inform future improvement. The findings also indicate the need to include GBV in the protocol or guidelines for HIV and TB management. Future large-scale quantitative studies to capture the magnitude and specific drivers of GBV against women living with HIV and TB during the pandemic are recommended.

[Comparative assessment of the intensity of caries among dental patients of older age groups in need of removable prosthetics, registered by a phthisiatician and their perception of an artificial ageist situation.]

Improving the quality of life of older age groups is an urgent problem of medicine, including its components: gerontology, phthisiology and dentistry. The objectives of the study are: to establish the importance of tuberculosis as an infection that causes the intensity of caries among patients of older age groups; assessment using the Palmore scale of gerontological ageism «The ageism survey¼ and patients' perception of an artificial situation of age inequality. The study involved elderly (n=122) and senile (n=121) persons with partial secondary adentia who needed removable dentures. The control groups of older people included patients who denied being under the supervision of a phthisiologist, and the study groups confirmed this. To solve the first problem, a comparative assessment of the values of the components of the CPI index in the control and study groups was carried out. To solve the second problem, an artificial situation of age inequality was simulated in the process of dental admission. The results of its effects were evaluated based on the response of patients to questions № 9, 10 of the Palmor scale. The absence of a difference in the values of K and N components between the control and study groups indicates the absence of a significant effect of mycobacteria on the development of caries. The large values of component Y in the studied groups may indicate the detrimental effect of mycobacteria on periodontal disease. The absence of an increase in the intensity and stability of the perception of age inequality among patients who are under the influence of an artificially created situation proves the great effectiveness of background age inequality. At the same time, it is impossible to exclude the low sensitivity of the Palmor scale in the process of diagnosing age inequality in Russian society.

Coping efforts made: Psychological burden of people living with tuberculosis due to social stigma in society. A qualitative phenomenology study.

The psychological burden is greatly felt by people living with tuberculosis because the characteristics of the disease are very visible and very contagious, and the obligation to take the right dose of medication with long treatment. This is what makes tuberculosis a very stigmatic disease. The aim of this research is to explore the psychological burden felt by people living with tuberculosis due to social stigma by society and how coping efforts are made. This research uses a qualitative phenomenological design through in-depth face-to-face interviews which take place in a semi-structured manner with the hope of obtaining complete data. The purposive sampling method was used in this research with Participatory Interpretative Phenomenology analysis involving 25 participants consisting of 16 men and 9 women. This research produced several themes, including 1) "The Perception of stigma limiting space and time", 2) "The Opportunities for interpersonal interaction become narrow", 3) "The mental stress as a challenging emotion", and 4) " Expanding coping efforts". The psychological burden is felt by people living with tuberculosis because society's treatment is felt to be very discriminatory due to the social stigma that has developed in society so they lose the opportunity to interact with society. For that reason, they tried to explore some of the personal and environmental resources used to modify adaptive coping in resolving perceived psychological burdens. Given the possibility of ongoing stigma and discrimination during tuberculosis treatment programs, it is important to consider the psychological burden in this context, both on the general population and on groups affected by stigma.

Perceptions of TB-HIV comorbidity among the Nomads in Adamawa State, Nigeria.

The recalcitrance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) to eradication was related to achieving a nonreplicating (dormant) state and the increasing global burden of HIV coinfection. Consequently, understanding the knowledge and perception of the population at risk of tuberculosis-HIV infection is essential to designing a strategy of intervention embraced by the target population. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Nomads in Adamawa State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was employed to recruit consented participants. Self-administered questionnaires were used to gather the required information from 4 nomadic schoolteachers in each selected school. Data were entered into a Microsoft Excel sheet where trends and tables of collated data were developed. The findings show that only 13.5% of the participants expressed the correct perceptions of the complementary relationship between HIV and TB. More people in government employment (35%) understand the coexisting relationship of TB-HIV infections. At the same time, cattle herders and crop farmers who practice the prevalent occupation lack knowledge of TB-HIV relatedness. Across gender, only a proportion of males (14.8%) than females (10.5%) were more likely to show an understanding of the complementary association of HIV and TB, and this difference showed statistical significance (p = 0.0001). In conclusion, male gender, education at a degree or professional level, and employment with the government are factors associated with positive perceptions of TB/HIV relatedness. Thus, there is a need to intensify communication to educate Nomads on HIV and TB-related issues.

Exploring Sex Differences in Risk Factors and Quality of Life Among Tuberculosis Patients in Herat, Afghanistan: A Case-Control Study.

Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant public health concern in Afghanistan, with a high burden of disease in the western province of Herat. This study explored the risk factors of TB and TB's impact on the quality of life of patients in Herat. Methods: A total of 422 TB patients and 514 controls were recruited at Herat Regional Hospital and relevant TB laboratories between October 2020 and February 2021. Data was collected through interviews using a structured questionnaire and the SF-36 questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Multivariate General Linear Model, and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed that male sex (p = 0.023), chronic disease (p = 0.038), lower education levels (p < 0.001), and worse health status (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with higher odds of TB infection. The study also found that TB patients had significantly lower quality of life scores in almost all components (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study provides important insights into the specific ways in which TB affects the wellbeing of patients in Afghanistan. The findings highlight the importance of addressing the psychological and social dimensions of TB.

Digital Adherence Technologies Linked to Mobile Money Incentives for Medication Adherence Among People Living With Tuberculosis: Mixed Methods Feasibility and Acceptability Study.

BACKGROUND: Complementing digital adherence technologies (DATs) with mobile money incentives may improve their utility in supporting tuberculosis medication adherence, yet the feasibility and acceptability of this integrated approach remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the feasibility and acceptability of a novel DAT intervention called My Mobile Wallet composed of real-time adherence monitoring, SMS text message reminders, and mobile money incentives for tuberculosis medication adherence in a low-income setting. METHODS: We purposively recruited people living with tuberculosis from the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in Mbarara, Uganda, who (1) were starting tuberculosis treatment at enrollment or within the past 4 weeks, (2) owned a mobile phone, (3) were able to use SMS test messaging, (4) were aged ≥18 years, and (5) were living in Mbarara district. At study exit (month 6), we used interviews and questionnaires informed by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to collect feasibility and acceptability data, reflecting patients' experiences of using each component of My Mobile Wallet. Feasibility also included tracking the functionality of the adherence monitor (ie, an electronic pillbox) as well as SMS text message and mobile money delivery. We used a content analytical approach to inductively analyze qualitative data and Stata (version 13; StataCorp LLC) to analyze quantitative data. RESULTS: All 39 participants reported that the intervention was feasible because it was easy for them to use (eg, access and read SMS text messages) and worked as expected. Almost all SMS text messages (6880/7064, 97.4%) were sent as planned. The transmission of adherence data from the monitor worked well, with 98.37% (5682/5776) of the data transmitted as planned. All participants additionally reported that the intervention was acceptable because it helped them take their tuberculosis medication as prescribed; the mobile money incentives relieved them of tuberculosis-related financial burdens; SMS text message reminders and electronic pillbox-based alarms reminded them to take their medication on time; and participants perceived real-time adherence monitoring as "being watched" while taking their medication, which encouraged them to take their medication on time to demonstrate their commitment. The intervention was perceived as a sign of care, which eventually created emotional support and a sense of connectedness to health care. Participants preferred daily SMS text message reminders (32/39, 82%) to reminders linked to missed doses (7/39, 18%), citing the fact that tuberculosis medication is taken daily. CONCLUSIONS: The use of real-time adherence monitoring linked to SMS text message reminders and mobile money incentives for tuberculosis medication adherence was feasible and acceptable in a low-resource setting where poverty-based structural barriers heavily constrain tuberculosis treatment and care.

The Role of Trust as a Driver of Private-Provider Participation in Disease Surveillance: Cross-Sectional Survey From Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Recognition of the importance of valid, real-time knowledge of infectious disease risk has renewed scrutiny into private providers' intentions, motives, and obstacles to comply with an Integrated Disease Surveillance Response (IDSR) framework. Appreciation of how private providers' attitudes shape their tuberculosis (TB) notification behaviors can yield lessons for the surveillance of emerging pathogens, antibiotic stewardship, and other crucial public health functions. Reciprocal trust among actors and institutions is an understudied part of the "software" of surveillance. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the self-reported knowledge, motivation, barriers, and TB case notification behavior of private health care providers to public health authorities in Lagos, Nigeria. We measured the concordance between self-reported notification, TB cases found in facility records, and actual notifications received. METHODS: A representative, stratified sample of 278 private health care workers was surveyed on TB notification attitudes, behavior, and perceptions of public health authorities using validated scales. Record reviews were conducted to identify the TB treatment provided and facility case counts were abstracted from the records. Self-reports were triangulated against actual notification behavior for 2016. The complex health system framework was used to identify potential predictors of notification behavior. RESULTS: Noncompliance with the legal obligations to notify infectious diseases was not attributable to a lack of knowledge. Private providers who were uncomfortable notifying TB cases via the IDSR system scored lower on the perceived benevolence subscale of trust. Health care workers who affirmed "always" notifying via IDSR monthly reported higher median trust in the state's public disease control capacity. Although self-reported notification behavior was predicted by age, gender, and positive interaction with public health bodies, the self-report numbers did not tally with actual TB notifications. CONCLUSIONS: Providers perceived both risks and benefits to recording and reporting TB cases. To improve private providers' public health behaviors, policy makers need to transcend instrumental and transactional approaches to surveillance to include building trust in public health, simplifying the task, and enhancing the link to improved health. Renewed attention to the "software" of health systems (eg, norms, values, and relationships) is vital to address pandemic threats. Surveys with private providers may overestimate their actual participation in public health surveillance.

Analysis of Health-Related Quality of Life and Incurred Costs Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Tuberculosis, and Tuberculosis/HIV Coinfected Outpatients in Indonesia.

OBJECTIVES: A growing interest in healthcare costs and patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) exists in the context of the increasing importance of health technology assessment in countries with high numbers of the HIV and tuberculosis (TB) patient populations, such as Indonesia. This study aimed to analyze the HRQoL and out-of-pocket (OOP) costs of HIV, TB, and TB/HIV coinfected participants in a city in Indonesia with a high prevalence of HIV and TB. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the voluntary counseling and testing and lung clinics of Bekasi City Public Hospital (Indonesia) from January to March 2018. Patients' HRQoL was measured using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire, whereas OOP costs were extracted from a semistructured questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 460 eligible participants, 82% resided in the city, 48% of them were married, and their median age was 34 years. Less than half were insured, and more than half had no source of income. The median values of health utilities for participants with HIV, TB, and TB/HIV were perceived as potentially high (1.0, 0.9, and 0.8, respectively). The TB/HIV coinfected outpatients had the highest OOP costs (US$94.5), with the largest contribution coming from direct medical OOP expenditures. Taking loans from family members was adopted as a financial strategy to overcome inadequate household incomes and high treatment costs. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that TB/HIV coinfection potentially lowers HRQoL and increases healthcare costs and the need for economic analysis to underpin cost-effective treatment in such patients.

Barriers and facilitators to integrating depression care in tuberculosis services in South Asia: a multi-country qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Depression is common among people with tuberculosis (TB). The condition is typically unrecognised or untreated despite available and effective treatments in most low- and middle-income countries. TB services in these countries are relatively well established, offering a potential opportunity to deliver integrated depression screening and care. However, there is limited evidence on how such integration could be achieved. This study aimed to understand the barriers and facilitators to integrate depression care in TB services. METHODS: We conducted nine workshops with 76 study participants, including people with TB, their carers, and health service providers in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, seeking views on integrating depression care into TB clinics. We used a deductive thematic approach to analyse the translated transcripts of audio recordings, contemporaneous notes made during workshops for Bangladesh and India and workshop reports for Pakistan. Using the SURE (Supporting the Use of Research Evidence) thematic framework, we extracted and categorised barriers and facilitators into various domains. RESULTS: Reported barriers to integrating depression care in TB services included lack of knowledge about depression amongst patients and the staff, financial burden, and associated stigma for people with TB and their carers. Government buy-in and understanding of how to identify and screen for depression screening were potential facilitators reported. Additionally, breaking through mental health stigma and providing the additional resources required to deliver this service (human resources and consultation time) were essential for integrating depression and TB care. CONCLUSIONS: Depression is a common condition found among people with TB, requiring early identification among people with TB. Integrating depression care into Tb services by health workers requires the availability of political support and the provision of resources.

The role of self-esteem as moderator of the relationship between experienced stigma and anxiety and depression among tuberculosis patients.

Anxiety and depression are very common in tuberculosis (TB) patients and can adversely affect TB treatment adherence, ultimately leading to higher morbidity, mortality and drug resistance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the association among experienced stigma, self-esteem and anxiety and depression, and to further explore whether self-esteem could be a moderator in the association between experienced stigma and anxiety and depression in TB patients. A total of 473 TB patients from Dalian, Liaoning Province, Northeast China participated in a cross-sectional survey. A structured questionnaire was developed to collect data. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to analyze the association among experienced stigma, self-esteem and experienced stigma × self-esteem interaction with anxiety and depression. Simple slope analysis was applied to visualize the interaction. Experienced stigma was positively associated with anxiety (B = 0.307, P < 0.01) and depression (B = 0.277, P < 0.01), and self-esteem was negatively associated with anxiety (B = - 0.215, P < 0.01) and depression (B = - 0.351, P < 0.01) in TB patients. The association between experienced stigma and anxiety was different in the low (1 standard deviation (SD) below the mean, B = 0.376, standard error (SE) = 0.056, P < 0.01) and high (1 SD above the mean, B = 0.228, SE = 0.060, P < 0.01) groups of self-esteem. Additionally, the association between experienced stigma and depression was also different in the low (1 SD below the mean, B = 0.363, SE = 0.053, P < 0.01) and high (1 SD above the mean, B = 0.179, SE = 0.056, P < 0.01) groups of self-esteem. Self-esteem could moderate the association between experienced stigma and anxiety and depression. In addition to reducing experienced stigma, enhancing self-esteem as a way to reduce the impact of experienced stigma on anxiety and depression can also help improve the mental health of TB patients.

A study on tuberculosis disease disclosure patterns and its associated factors: Findings from a prospective observational study in Chennai.

BACKGROUND: Disclosure of tuberculosis (TB) status by patients is a critical step in their treatment cascade of care. There is a lack of systematic assessment of TB disclosure patterns and its positive outcomes which happens dynamically over the disease period of individual patients with their family and wider social network relations. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted in Chennai Corporation treatment units during 2019-2021. TB patients were recruited and followed-up from treatment initiation to completion. Information on disease disclosures made to different social members at different time points, and outcomes were collected and compared. Bivariate and multi variate analysis were used to identify the patients and contact characteristics predictive of TB disclosure status. RESULTS: A total of 466 TB patients were followed-up, who listed a total of 4039 family, extra familial and social network contacts of them. Maximum disclosures were made with family members (93%) and half of the relatives, occupational contacts and friendship contacts (44-58%) were disclosed within 15 days of treatment initiation. Incremental disclosures made during the 150-180 days of treatment were highest among neighbourhood contacts (12%), and was significantly different between treatment initiation and completion period. Middle aged TB patients (31 years and 46-55 years) were found less likely to disclose (AOR 0.56 and 0.46 respectively; p<0.05) and illiterates were found more likely to disclose their TB status (AOR 3.91; p<0.05). Post the disclosure, family contacts have mostly provided resource support (44.90%) and two third of all disclosed contacts have provided emotional support for TB patients (>71%). CONCLUSION: Findings explain that family level disclosures were predominant and disclosures made to extra familial network contacts significantly increased during the latter part of treatment. Emotional support was predominantly received by TB patients from all their contacts post disclosure. Findings could inform in developing interventions to facilitate disclosure of disease status in a beneficial way for TB patients.

Qualitative study of patient experiences of mental distress during TB investigation and treatment in Zambia.

BACKGROUND: The mental health and TB syndemic is a topic that remains under-researched with a significant gap in acknowledging and recognizing patient experiences, particularly in the sub-Saharan African region. In this qualitative study conducted in Zambia, we aimed to explore the lived mental health experiences of TB patients focusing on their multi-layered drivers of distress, and by so doing highlighting contextual factors that influence mental distress in TB patients in this setting. METHODS: The study draws on qualitative data collected in 2018 as part of the Tuberculosis Reduction through Expanded Antiretroviral Treatment and Screening for active TB trial (TREATS) being conducted in Zambia. The data was collected through in-depth interviews with former TB patients (n = 80) from 8 urban communities participating in the TREATS trial. Thematic analysis was conducted. Additional quantitative exploratory analysis mapping mental distress symptoms on demographic, social, economic and TB characteristics of participants was conducted. RESULTS: Most participants (76%) shared that they had experienced some form of mental distress during their TB investigation and treatment period. The reported symptoms ranged in severity. Some participants reported mild distress that did not disrupt their daily lives or ability to adhere to their TB medication, while other participants reported more severe symptoms of distress, for example, 15% of participants shared that they had suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm during their time on treatment. Mental distress was driven by unique interactions between individual, social and health level factors most of which were inextricably linked to poverty. Mental distress caused by individual level drivers such as TB morbidity often abated once participants started feeling better, however social, economic and health system level drivers of distress persisted during and beyond TB treatment. CONCLUSION: The findings illustrate that mental distress during TB is driven by multi-layered and intersecting stresses, with the economic stress of poverty often being the most powerful driver. Measures are urgently needed to support TB patients during the investigation and treatment phase, including increased availability of mental health services, better social security safety nets during TB treatment, and interventions targeting TB, HIV and mental health stigma. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03739736 . Trial registration date: November 14, 2018.

Application of the information-motivation-behavioral-skills model to validate a cognitive and behavioral intervention scale for tuberculosis patients in Jos, Nigeria.

Psychometric scales can be used to assess the cognition of and behavior toward tuberculosis (TB) disease and anti-TB medicines in TB patients by applying the Information-Motivation-Behavioral-Skills model. This study validated a psychometric scale from the responses of 115 TB patients using principal component (PCA) and reliability analyses. The Cronbach's-alpha was 0.864. The PCA identified 21 factors, with eigenvalues greater than one. Six factors, with factor loading >0.5 had more than two items loaded to a factor. Twenty-five items validated from six factors suggest that the scale can be used for cognitive and behavioral assessment and interventions in tuberculosis patients.

Sleep quality and its associated factors among patients with tuberculosis: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) patients commonly suffer from sleep issues owing to various adverse drug reactions (ADRs), disease symptoms, and the contagious nature of their disease. These sleep issues negatively affect the treatment outcome and quality of life. However, the prevalence of sleep disturbance and its associated factors among TB patients have rarely been reported. Methods: A total of 497 inpatients with TB from three hospitals in China were enrolled in this cross-sectional study to investigate their sleep quality using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Clinical data, including demographic information, TB-related stigma, perceived stress, and nutrition- and immunity-related indicators, were also collected to explore the factors associated with sleep disturbance among the recruited patients. Results: Approximately 70% of the recruited patients reported a sleep disturbance to varying degrees, presenting poorer global and subjective sleep qualities, longer sleep latency, shorter sleep duration, lower sleep efficiency, more frequent sleep disturbances, greater use of sleeping medication, and more severe daytime dysfunction. Furthermore, the body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin levels, albumin levels, and T lymphocyte count of the patients in the poor sleep quality group were significantly lower than those in the good sleep quality group (p < 0.05). Increasing age, higher income, drug resistance, higher stigma or stress perception, lower albumin levels, and lower CD4 levels were significantly associated with sleep disturbance among TB patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Three-quarters of the participants were found to suffer from a probable sleep disturbance. And sleep problems are linked to biological traits that interact with psychological, cultural, and social factors in complex ways. It is therefore important to pay attention to the sleep quality of TB patients, especially those with the identified risk factors. Besides, taking care of these risk factors may prove to be an effective sleep management strategy.

Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas en pacientes con tuberculosis: una revisión sistemática de literatura / Knowledge, attitudes and practices in patients with tuberculosis: a systematic literature review

Introducción: La tuberculosis es una enfermedad infectocontagiosa de fácil tras-misión. Para su control, los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas adecuadas son indis-pensables, así como los factores relevantes para la adherencia al tratamiento. Objetivo: Caracterizar las definiciones o los conceptos de las dimensiones de cono-cimientos, actitudes y prácticas en tuberculosis reportados en la literatura durante los últimos diez años. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura bajo la metodología "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analy-ses". Inicialmente, se encontraron 1.720 posibles publicaciones, de las cuales, luego de la aplicación de los criterios de exclusión, quedaron 34 para ser incluidas en el análisis de esta revisión. Resultados: La mayoría de los estudios fueron publicados en el año 2018 y pre-dominaron las publicaciones en el continente africano. La caracterización de las di-mensiones se relaciona así: los conocimientos se definen como características de la enfermedad, las actitudes se relacionan con el estigma social hacia el paciente y las prácticas corresponden con la búsqueda de atención médica por parte del paciente. Conclusión: Se identificó la escasez de producción científica en donde se especifi-quen los conceptos de las dimensiones de conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas, que a su vez permitan el desarrollo de investigaciones de alto rigor y alcance metodológico, ya que las publicaciones realizadas e incluidas para este estudio tuvieron una evalua-ción de baja calidad.

Introduction: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease of easy transmission. For tuber-culosis's control, appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and practices are essential, as well as relevant factors for treatment adherence. Objective: To characterize the concepts of three dimensions ­knowledge, atti-tudes, and practices­ in tuberculosis reported in the literature during the last ten years. Materials and methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out under the methodology "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Me-ta-Analyzes". Initially, 1.720 possible publications were found, of which, after apply-ing the exclusion criteria, 34 remained to be included in this review. Results: Most studies were published in 2018, and publications on the African con-tinent predominated. The characterization of the dimensions is related as follows: knowledge was defined as the characteristics of the disease, attitudes were related with the social stigma towards the patient with TB, and practices were associated with seeking medical care by the patients with TB. Conclusion: There is a lack of publications on the definition of knowledge, atti-tudes and practices on tuberculosis, which hampers developing high impact research.

Determinants of tuberculosis treatment interruption among patients in Vihiga County, Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Despite robust Tuberculosis (TB) program with effective chemotherapy and high coverage, treatment interruption remains a serious problem. Interrupting TB treatment means that patients remain infectious for longer time and are at risk of developing drug resistance and death. This study was conducted to identify and describe predictors of TB treatment interruption. METHODS: A cohort of 291 notified TB patients from 20 selected health facilities in Vihiga County were enrolled in to the study and followed up until the end of treatment. Patient characteristics that potentially predict treatment interruption were recorded during treatment initiation using structured questionnaires. Patients who interrupted treatment were traced and reasons for stoppage of treatment recorded. Kaplan Meier method was used to estimate probabilities of treatment interruption by patient characteristics and determine time intervals. The Log rank test for the equality of survival distributions analyzed significance of survival differences among categorical variables. For multivariable analysis, Cox proportional hazard model, was fitted to identify predictors of TB treatment interruption through calculation of hazard ratios with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs). For variable analysis, statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Reasons for treatment interruption were categorized according to most recurrent behavioral or experiential characteristics. RESULTS: Participants' median age was 40 years (IQR = 32-53) and 72% were male. Of the 291 patients, 11% (n = 32) interrupted treatment. Incidences of treatment interruption significantly occurred during intensive phase of treatment. Independent predictors of treatment interruption included alcohol consumption (HR = 9.2, 95% CI; 2.6-32.5, p < 0.001), being female (HR = 5.01, 95% CI; 1.68-15.0, p = 0.004), having primary or lower education level (HR = 3.09, 95% CI; 1.13-8.49, p < 0.029) and having a treatment supporter (HR = 0.33, 95% CI; 0.14-0.76, p = 0.009). Reasons for interrupting treatment were categorized as: alcoholism, feeling better after treatment initiation, associated TB stigma, long distance to health facility, lack of food, perception of not having TB and pill burden. CONCLUSION: TB treatment interruption was high and largely associated with patients' socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics. These multidimensional factors suggest the need for interventions that not only target individual patients but also environment in which they live and receive healthcare services.

The relationship among social support, experienced stigma, psychological distress, and quality of life among tuberculosis patients in China.

The complex relationships among social support, experienced stigma, psychological distress, and quality of life (QOL) among tuberculosis (TB) patients are insufficiently understood. The purpose of this study was to explore the interrelationships among social support, experienced stigma, psychological distress, and QOL and to examine whether experienced stigma and psychological distress play a mediating role. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 2020 and March 2021 in Dalian, Liaoning Province, Northeast China. Data were obtained from 473 TB patients using a structured questionnaire. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the hypothetical model. The research model provided a good fit to the measured data. All research hypotheses were supported: (1) social support, experienced stigma and psychological distress were associated with QOL; (2) experienced stigma fully mediated the effect of social support on psychological distress; (3) psychological distress fully mediated the effect of experienced stigma on QOL; and (4) experienced stigma and psychological distress were sequential mediators between social support and QOL. This study elucidated the pathways linking social support, experienced stigma, and psychological distress to QOL and provides an empirical basis for improving the QOL of TB patients.

Linkage to TB care: A qualitative study to understand linkage from the patients' perspective in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Delayed linkage to tuberculosis (TB) treatment leads to poor patient outcomes and increased onward transmission. Between 12% and 25% of people diagnosed with TB are never linked to a primary health care facility for continued care. The TB health program is for creating processes that promote and facilitates easy access to care. We explored how TB patients experience TB services and how this influenced their choices around linkage to TB care and treatment. METHODS: We enrolled 20 participants routinely diagnosed with TB in hospital or at primary health care facilities (PHC) in a high TB/HIV burdened peri-urban community in South Africa. Using the Western Cape Provincial Health Data centre (PHDC) which consolidates person-level clinical data, we used dates of diagnosis and treatment initiation to select participants who had been linked (immediately, after a delay, or never). Between June 2019 and January 2020, we facilitated in-depth discussions to explore both the participants' experience of their TB diagnosis and their journey around linking to TB care at a primary health care facility. We analysed the data using case descriptions. RESULTS: Twelve of twenty (12/20) participants interviewed who experienced a delay linking were diagnosed at the hospital. Participants who experienced delays in linking or never linked explained this as a result of lack of information and support from health care providers. Unpleasant previous TB treatment episodes made it difficult to 'face' TB again and being uncertain of their TB diagnosis. In contrast, participants said the main motivator for linking was a personal will to get better. CONCLUSION: The health care system, especially in hospitals, should focus on strengthening patient-centred care. Communication and clear messaging on TB processes is key, to prepare patients in transitioning from a hospital setting to PHC facilities for continuation of care. This should not just include a thorough explanation of their TB diagnosis but ensure that patients understand treatment processes. Former TB patients may require additional counselling and support to re-engage in care.

Health-Related Quality of Life of Tuberculosis Patients and the Role of Socioeconomic Factors: A Mixed-Method Study.

This study aims to assess tuberculosis (TB) patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and to determine the relationship between HRQoL and the socioeconomic and health characteristics of patients. A mixed-method approach of explanatory sequential design is used in this study. Data were collected at 11 TB centers and two private clinics in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Quantitative data were collected through a standardized questionnaire (SF-36) of RAND organization from 269 pulmonary TB patients. Qualitative data were collected through 20 in-depth interviews, 15 Key Informant interviews, and a focus group discussion. The maximum score of SF-36 is 100, however, different aspects of HRQoL indicated that patients scored lowest in the role limitation physical (10.3) and emotional (11.2) categories, while the highest remained in the mental health (45.3) category. Patients of higher age, being female, low household income, and comorbidity decreased the HRQoL. Qualitative findings show that TB affected the patients' social functioning, vitality, and emotions. Moreover, poverty and low income, people living in Kacha Houses, family support, and the hate from family members and community are related to low HRQoL. In summary, TB has affected the Patients' HRQoL. TB program managers should pay attention to the nonmedication aspects of TB management. Financial support should be extended TB patients. This study calls for the urgent attention of the National Tuberculosis Program and policymakers, for an increased focus on patients' welfare programs.

Adolescents in a tuberculosis hospital: Qualitative study of how relationships with doctors, caregivers, and peers mediate their mental wellbeing.

Lengthy hospitalization can impact adolescents' mental wellbeing in a number of negative ways. Scholarship has indicated that a young patient's relationships play an important role in reducing the amount of stress felt and in improving emotional state. In this article we turn to the experiences of adolescents with tuberculosis [TB] in Russia to explore how exactly hospitalization together with the TB diagnosis itself impact their mental wellbeing and how relationships with others mediate these impacts. We conducted a qualitative, interview-based study in Tomsk pediatric TB clinic. Interviews were conducted with three groups relevant for reaching the aim of this research: adolescent patients, their adult caregivers, and their treating physicians [17 informants in total]. Interview data were complemented with prolonged observations in the same clinic. The results of our study highlight that threats to mental wellbeing of adolescents with TB are multiple. Adolescents who are about to enter the in-patient treatment feel apprehensive and anxious about their future. They tend to have a hard time accepting their diagnosis, which they often feel is something shameful, and, consequently, may develop a negative attitude towards themselves. Most importantly, many undergo painful loss of personal relationships and expect or actually experience rejection by peers because of having tuberculosis. However, relationships with physicians, caregivers, and other patients in the clinic mediate negative impacts of TB diagnosis and hospitalization on adolescents' mental wellbeing and can open ways for providing support. Supportive practices include physicians leaving it up to adolescents to decide what they want to discuss and when, caregivers remaining available for contact and keeping regular communication, and other adolescents with TB proactively seeking contact with the newcomers and behaving in a non-judgmental way. These results can inform design of adolescent-friendly TB services.