Perceived Stigma and Psychological Distress among Tuberculosis Patients: Insights into Psychosocial Challenges at a Healthcare Center
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v14i4.1242Keywords:
Tuberculosis, stigma, social support, depression, anxietyAbstract
Background: Stigma associated with tuberculosis (TB) negatively impacts patients' self-esteem and quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate perceived stigma and psychological distress among TB patients and identify associated sociodemographic and clinical factors.
Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 155 patients at the Tuberculosis Health Care Center in Rawalpindi. Perceived stigma was assessed using the Tuberculosis Stigma Data Collection Instrument, while psychological distress was evaluated with the Oslo-3 Social Support Scale, PHQ-9, and GAD-7. Data analysis was performed using SPSS Version 23.
Results: The mean age of participants was 45 years (SD ± 17.4), with 67.1% males and 32.9% females. Perceived stigma was reported by 59.4% of patients, and 52.9% experienced poor social support. Mild to moderate depression was observed in 44.5%, and 52.9% reported moderate to moderately severe anxiety. Perceived stigma was significantly associated with education (p = 0.01), disease duration (p < 0.0001), and severity (p < 0.0001). Poor social support correlated with education, income, disease severity, and duration. Depression was linked to marital status, education, disease duration, and severity, while anxiety was associated with treatment phase and illness duration.
Conclusion: Perceived stigma and psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and poor social support, are prevalent in TB patients. Counseling sessions and public awareness campaigns are essential to mitigate these issues.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Tamkeen Nishat Jaffry, Rubab Zulfiqar, Hina Shan, Raima Asif, Uzma Hassan, Nadia Tariq

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