Fear and social isolation as consequences of tuberculosis in VietNam: a gender analysis

Setting: the study was conducted in four districts in different regions. of Vietnam. Objective: to describe the socio-economic consequences of tubercu losis (TB) in Vietnam with special reference to gender differentials concer ning social stigma and isolation. Design: sixteen focus group discussions w ere carried out with men and women, TB patients and non-TB; participants. D ata was analysed using modified grounded theory technique. Results: general ly, the participants had good knowledge about TB. However, knowledge and pr actice were not closely related in the sense that most non-TB participants perceived that TB can be successfully cured, while patients were seriously shocked when they were told that they had TB. Male patients often worried a bout economic-related problems, while female patients worried about social consequences of the disease. Both in the family and the community, isolatio n could be subtle, but it could also be obvious and had a tendency to conti nue much longer than medically justified. Conclusion: information on stigma and isolation due to TB and gender differences is important for understand ing patient dynamics and its effects on the disease. Tuberculosis control p rogrammes need better understanding of the gender differences in attitudes and beliefs to improve case-detection and treatment outcome, (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.