Barriers and delays in tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment services: does gender matter?

Citation: Yang WT, Gounder CR, Akande T, De Neve JW, McIntire KN, Chandrasekhar A, de Lima Pereira A, Gummadi N, Samanta S, Gupta A. Barriers and delays in tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment services: does gender matter? Tuberc Res Treat. 2014;2014:461935. doi: 10.1155/2014/461935. Epub 2014 Apr 28. PMID: 24876956. PMCID: PMC4020203.

Access full article:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24876956

BACKGROUND:

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global public health problem with known gender-related disparities. We reviewed the quantitative evidence for gender-related differences in accessing TB services from symptom onset to treatment initiation. Methods. Following a systematic review process, we: searched 12 electronic databases; included quantitative studies assessing gender differences in accessing TB diagnostic and treatment services; abstracted data; and assessed study validity. We defined barriers and delays at the individual and provider/system levels using a conceptual framework of the TB care continuum and examined gender-related differences. Results. Among 13,448 articles, 137 were included: many assessed individual-level barriers (52%) and delays (42%), 76% surveyed persons presenting for care with diagnosed or suspected TB, 24% surveyed community members, and two-thirds were from African and Asian regions. Many studies reported no gender differences. Among studies reporting disparities, women faced greater barriers (financial: 64% versus 36%; physical: 100% versus 0%; stigma: 85% versus 15%; health literacy: 67% versus 33%; and provider-/system-level: 100% versus 0%) and longer delays (presentation to diagnosis: 45% versus 0%) than men. Conclusions. Many studies found no quantitative gender-related differences in barriers and delays limiting access to TB services. When differences were identified, women experienced greater barriers and longer delays than men.

Tuberc Res Treat. 2014;2014:461935. doi: 10.1155/2014/461935. Epub 2014 Apr 28. PubMed PMID:24876956; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4020203

Categories

CRS
Topics

Clinical Trials

A5300/P2003: PHOENIx Feasibility Study

Study of MDR TB Cases and Their Household Contacts: Operational Feasibility to Inform PHOENIx Trial Design

Read More

A5332: Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascular Events in HIV...

REPRIEVE (A5332) is a large double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of pitavastatin or placebo for about 72 months....

Read More

Impact of Tuberculosis Infection on HIV-1 Antibody Response...

Study Objective: Compare longitudinal HIV-1 antibody responses among HIV-1 infected participants that either did or did not...

Read More

P2001 (DAIDS ID 12026): Evaluating the Pharmacokinetics,...

TB is a major cause of illness and death in women of reproductive age. Pregnant and postpartum women with latent TB are at...

Read More

A5274: REMEMBER, Reducing Early Mortality and Early...

This study is being done in people who are starting HIV treatment and who live in areas where the TB infection rate is high. The...

Read More