Tuberculosis in migrant populations. A systematic review of the qualitative literature.
<h4>Background</h4>The re-emergence of tuberculosis (TB) in low-incidence countries and its disproportionate burden on immigrants is a public health concern posing specific social and ethical challenges. This review explores perceptions, knowledge, attitudes and treatment adherence behav...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2013-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/24349284/?tool=EBI |
| _version_ | 1818338041069043712 |
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| author | Bruno Abarca Tomás Christopher Pell Aurora Bueno Cavanillas José Guillén Solvas Robert Pool María Roura |
| author_facet | Bruno Abarca Tomás Christopher Pell Aurora Bueno Cavanillas José Guillén Solvas Robert Pool María Roura |
| author_sort | Bruno Abarca Tomás |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>The re-emergence of tuberculosis (TB) in low-incidence countries and its disproportionate burden on immigrants is a public health concern posing specific social and ethical challenges. This review explores perceptions, knowledge, attitudes and treatment adherence behaviour relating to TB and their social implications as reported in the qualitative literature.<h4>Methods</h4>Systematic review in four electronic databases. Findings from thirty selected studies extracted, tabulated, compared and synthesized.<h4>Findings</h4>TB was attributed to many non-exclusive causes including air-born transmission of bacteria, genetics, malnutrition, excessive work, irresponsible lifestyles, casual contact with infected persons or objects; and exposure to low temperatures, dirt, stress and witchcraft. Perceived as curable but potentially lethal and highly contagious, there was confusion around a condition surrounded by fears. A range of economic, legislative, cultural, social and health system barriers could delay treatment seeking. Fears of deportation and having contacts traced could prevent individuals from seeking medical assistance. Once on treatment, family support and "the personal touch" of health providers emerged as key factors facilitating adherence. The concept of latent infection was difficult to comprehend and while TB screening was often seen as a socially responsible act, it could be perceived as discriminatory. Immigration and the infectiousness of TB mutually reinforced each another exacerbating stigma. This was further aggravated by indirect costs such as losing a job, being evicted by a landlord or not being able to attend school.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Understanding immigrants' views of TB and the obstacles that they face when accessing the health system and adhering to a treatment programme-taking into consideration their previous experiences at countries of origin as well as the social, economic and legislative context in which they live at host countries- has an important role and should be considered in the design, evaluation and adaptation of programmes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T15:04:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5fc3bf3fe8794f8dab76c3734f530386 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T15:04:48Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-5fc3bf3fe8794f8dab76c3734f5303862022-12-21T23:41:01ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-01812e8244010.1371/journal.pone.0082440Tuberculosis in migrant populations. A systematic review of the qualitative literature.Bruno Abarca TomásChristopher PellAurora Bueno CavanillasJosé Guillén SolvasRobert PoolMaría Roura<h4>Background</h4>The re-emergence of tuberculosis (TB) in low-incidence countries and its disproportionate burden on immigrants is a public health concern posing specific social and ethical challenges. This review explores perceptions, knowledge, attitudes and treatment adherence behaviour relating to TB and their social implications as reported in the qualitative literature.<h4>Methods</h4>Systematic review in four electronic databases. Findings from thirty selected studies extracted, tabulated, compared and synthesized.<h4>Findings</h4>TB was attributed to many non-exclusive causes including air-born transmission of bacteria, genetics, malnutrition, excessive work, irresponsible lifestyles, casual contact with infected persons or objects; and exposure to low temperatures, dirt, stress and witchcraft. Perceived as curable but potentially lethal and highly contagious, there was confusion around a condition surrounded by fears. A range of economic, legislative, cultural, social and health system barriers could delay treatment seeking. Fears of deportation and having contacts traced could prevent individuals from seeking medical assistance. Once on treatment, family support and "the personal touch" of health providers emerged as key factors facilitating adherence. The concept of latent infection was difficult to comprehend and while TB screening was often seen as a socially responsible act, it could be perceived as discriminatory. Immigration and the infectiousness of TB mutually reinforced each another exacerbating stigma. This was further aggravated by indirect costs such as losing a job, being evicted by a landlord or not being able to attend school.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Understanding immigrants' views of TB and the obstacles that they face when accessing the health system and adhering to a treatment programme-taking into consideration their previous experiences at countries of origin as well as the social, economic and legislative context in which they live at host countries- has an important role and should be considered in the design, evaluation and adaptation of programmes.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/24349284/?tool=EBI |
| spellingShingle | Bruno Abarca Tomás Christopher Pell Aurora Bueno Cavanillas José Guillén Solvas Robert Pool María Roura Tuberculosis in migrant populations. A systematic review of the qualitative literature. PLoS ONE |
| title | Tuberculosis in migrant populations. A systematic review of the qualitative literature. |
| title_full | Tuberculosis in migrant populations. A systematic review of the qualitative literature. |
| title_fullStr | Tuberculosis in migrant populations. A systematic review of the qualitative literature. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tuberculosis in migrant populations. A systematic review of the qualitative literature. |
| title_short | Tuberculosis in migrant populations. A systematic review of the qualitative literature. |
| title_sort | tuberculosis in migrant populations a systematic review of the qualitative literature |
| url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/24349284/?tool=EBI |
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