The Analiysis of Stigma and Discrimination in Tuberculosis Patients

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Objective: Tuberculosis patients are stigmatized by the society, exposed to discrimination and in other words stigmatized. Our study was carried out to determine the level of stigmatization and the factors affecting the tuberculosis patients. METHODS: The sample of our study consisted of 95 patients with tuberculosis who were older than 18 years of age and had no communication problems by Tuberculosis Dispensary. The data were collected using Stigma Scale for Patients with Tuberculosis (SPTT) and sociodemographic questionnaire by face-to-face interview method. RESULTS: While the self-perception and internalized stigma levels of the patients who had no social security were higher in the female patients who participated in the study, the sensible stigma levels of the patients whose marital status was married and the average monthly income was below the minimum wage were significantly higher (p<0.05). The family / friend relationship stigma level of the illiterate patients is significantly higher (p<0.05). Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis had significantly higher stigma scores than patients with pulmonary tuberculosis according to tuberculosis status (p<0.05), whereas the self-perception and internalized stigma levels of patients with tuberculosis in the family were significantly higher (p<0.05). All stigma scores of the patients who were excluded from the patients and their families and friends who had been treated with tuberculosis were significantly higher (p<0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In our study, it was determined that patients with tuberculosis experienced moderate stigmatization. Prevention of stigmatization and discrimination in patients with tuberculosis is as important as adaptation to treatment.