Background: TB-related stigma among healthcare workers (HCWs) can negatively impact on health-seeking behavior, treatment adherence, TB treatment completion, and the overall quality of TB services. Yet, the dimensions, experiences, and manifestations of TB-related stigma among HCWs are largely unknown in our region, particularly in the context of Tanzania. This knowledge gap prompted the researchers to design the current study. Methods: This cross-sectional study employed both quantitative and qualitative techniques to collect data on TB-related stigma among HCWs who provide TB services in 20 selected health facilities in 5 regions (provinces) of Tanzania. Data analysis was performed using quantitative descriptive and thematic analysis methods. The results have been presented as frequency tables with respective percentages, figures, and quotes. Results: Seventy-nine (79) HCWs were recruited. The overall level of perceived TB-related stigma among HCWs was 52.57%, predominated by negative attitudes and stigmatizing behaviors towards TB patients. About one-fifth (21.52%) of the HCWs were stigmatized because their work involved interacting with TB-infected people. The common manifestations of TB-related stigma among HCWs were isolation, avoidance, and underappreciation both at the workplace and in the community. Such actions were mostly driven by fear of contracting TB. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that HCWs do not only have to contend with a high level of perceived TB-related stigma but are also stigmatized because of attending to TB patients. This stigma threatens to undermine the non-discriminatory access and quality of TB services. Therefore, there is an urgent call for reciprocal attention aimed to reduce TB-related stigma in healthcare settings to improve, ultimately, TB control in Tanzania.
| Published in | American Journal of Health Research (Volume 11, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ajhr.20231101.14 |
| Page(s) | 23-30 |
| 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), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Tuberculosis, Stigma, Healthcare Workers, Health Facilities, Tanzania
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APA Style
Wilbard Deogratias Muhandiki, Lucas Eliaimringi Matemba, Ndakibae Gabriel Mabega, Riziki Michael Kisonga, Emmanuel Heriel Matechi, et al. (2023). Tuberculosis-Related Stigma Among Healthcare Workers in Tanzania: Level, Experience and Manifestations. American Journal of Health Research, 11(1), 23-30. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20231101.14
ACS Style
Wilbard Deogratias Muhandiki; Lucas Eliaimringi Matemba; Ndakibae Gabriel Mabega; Riziki Michael Kisonga; Emmanuel Heriel Matechi, et al. Tuberculosis-Related Stigma Among Healthcare Workers in Tanzania: Level, Experience and Manifestations. Am. J. Health Res. 2023, 11(1), 23-30. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20231101.14
AMA Style
Wilbard Deogratias Muhandiki, Lucas Eliaimringi Matemba, Ndakibae Gabriel Mabega, Riziki Michael Kisonga, Emmanuel Heriel Matechi, et al. Tuberculosis-Related Stigma Among Healthcare Workers in Tanzania: Level, Experience and Manifestations. Am J Health Res. 2023;11(1):23-30. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20231101.14
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author = {Wilbard Deogratias Muhandiki and Lucas Eliaimringi Matemba and Ndakibae Gabriel Mabega and Riziki Michael Kisonga and Emmanuel Heriel Matechi and Hamimu Omary Kigumi and Gerald Phares Mwing’a and Onay Godson Lwanzali and Joseph Nyamuhuri Musuguri and Oscar Leonard Kaswaga and Eliakimu Paul Kapyolo},
title = {Tuberculosis-Related Stigma Among Healthcare Workers in Tanzania: Level, Experience and Manifestations},
journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {23-30},
doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20231101.14},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20231101.14},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20231101.14},
abstract = {Background: TB-related stigma among healthcare workers (HCWs) can negatively impact on health-seeking behavior, treatment adherence, TB treatment completion, and the overall quality of TB services. Yet, the dimensions, experiences, and manifestations of TB-related stigma among HCWs are largely unknown in our region, particularly in the context of Tanzania. This knowledge gap prompted the researchers to design the current study. Methods: This cross-sectional study employed both quantitative and qualitative techniques to collect data on TB-related stigma among HCWs who provide TB services in 20 selected health facilities in 5 regions (provinces) of Tanzania. Data analysis was performed using quantitative descriptive and thematic analysis methods. The results have been presented as frequency tables with respective percentages, figures, and quotes. Results: Seventy-nine (79) HCWs were recruited. The overall level of perceived TB-related stigma among HCWs was 52.57%, predominated by negative attitudes and stigmatizing behaviors towards TB patients. About one-fifth (21.52%) of the HCWs were stigmatized because their work involved interacting with TB-infected people. The common manifestations of TB-related stigma among HCWs were isolation, avoidance, and underappreciation both at the workplace and in the community. Such actions were mostly driven by fear of contracting TB. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that HCWs do not only have to contend with a high level of perceived TB-related stigma but are also stigmatized because of attending to TB patients. This stigma threatens to undermine the non-discriminatory access and quality of TB services. Therefore, there is an urgent call for reciprocal attention aimed to reduce TB-related stigma in healthcare settings to improve, ultimately, TB control in Tanzania.},
year = {2023}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Tuberculosis-Related Stigma Among Healthcare Workers in Tanzania: Level, Experience and Manifestations AU - Wilbard Deogratias Muhandiki AU - Lucas Eliaimringi Matemba AU - Ndakibae Gabriel Mabega AU - Riziki Michael Kisonga AU - Emmanuel Heriel Matechi AU - Hamimu Omary Kigumi AU - Gerald Phares Mwing’a AU - Onay Godson Lwanzali AU - Joseph Nyamuhuri Musuguri AU - Oscar Leonard Kaswaga AU - Eliakimu Paul Kapyolo Y1 - 2023/02/21 PY - 2023 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20231101.14 DO - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20231101.14 T2 - American Journal of Health Research JF - American Journal of Health Research JO - American Journal of Health Research SP - 23 EP - 30 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2330-8796 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20231101.14 AB - Background: TB-related stigma among healthcare workers (HCWs) can negatively impact on health-seeking behavior, treatment adherence, TB treatment completion, and the overall quality of TB services. Yet, the dimensions, experiences, and manifestations of TB-related stigma among HCWs are largely unknown in our region, particularly in the context of Tanzania. This knowledge gap prompted the researchers to design the current study. Methods: This cross-sectional study employed both quantitative and qualitative techniques to collect data on TB-related stigma among HCWs who provide TB services in 20 selected health facilities in 5 regions (provinces) of Tanzania. Data analysis was performed using quantitative descriptive and thematic analysis methods. The results have been presented as frequency tables with respective percentages, figures, and quotes. Results: Seventy-nine (79) HCWs were recruited. The overall level of perceived TB-related stigma among HCWs was 52.57%, predominated by negative attitudes and stigmatizing behaviors towards TB patients. About one-fifth (21.52%) of the HCWs were stigmatized because their work involved interacting with TB-infected people. The common manifestations of TB-related stigma among HCWs were isolation, avoidance, and underappreciation both at the workplace and in the community. Such actions were mostly driven by fear of contracting TB. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that HCWs do not only have to contend with a high level of perceived TB-related stigma but are also stigmatized because of attending to TB patients. This stigma threatens to undermine the non-discriminatory access and quality of TB services. Therefore, there is an urgent call for reciprocal attention aimed to reduce TB-related stigma in healthcare settings to improve, ultimately, TB control in Tanzania. VL - 11 IS - 1 ER -
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