The International Journal of TB & Lung Disease: Social and cultural dimensions of gender and tuberculosis
Summary
Tuberculosis affects millions of people worldwide, mostly the poor and impoverished, women and men alike. Notwithstanding the urgent need for additional tools including new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines unmet social challenges remain high priorities for effective TBcontrol. Scientific research supporting efforts to meet programme goals requires consideration of the biology of infection, health system performance and the social and cultural contexts that affect the illness and treatment behaviour of people with TB. Gender has become an increasingly important aspect of socio-cultural studies of the disease burden and control in low- and middle-income countries, and it is an especially important consideration for TB.