Tuberculosis (TB) and Stigma
There are a lot of misunderstandings surrounding TB treatment in Zambia — some people believe that people die when they go on TB treatment, so they don’t come forward for treatment. In some ways this is a self-fulfilling prophecy — because if people only start TB treatment when they are in the advanced stages of the disease and have given up on any other options, it is often too late to save them.
Some people also believe TB treatment has side effects like change in skin color and hair texture, and so everyone will know that one is on TB treatment — and they fear that they will be discriminated against.
Internet: <www.tbalert.org> (adapted).
