Gender-Related Barriers and Delays in Accessing Tuberculosis Diagnostic and Treatment Services: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies

Box 3

Stigma.

“I was 18 years when I got married and my husband was only a child. After our marriage he went to

school and he finished his matric. I had a daughter and a son. Now I am sick and my husband has taken a

second wife” (female) [18]

“He will think if this disease is known to other people, they will have less respect for me. Hence he will

try to hide it.” (male) [24]

“If a girl gets TB, community people will be reluctant to arrange marriage with her, because TB is also

perceived in community that it is a divine curse to the person and family, comes from wrong things they

did in the past. This belief is so strong in the community…” (male) [26]

“If the other party would come to know that I had TB, then they would not be interested to give me the

girl that had been agreed upon for me to marry. They would think that the girl might get this disease

from me.” (male) [31]