TB in Women: The Gender Dimension

Context:

This analysis examines how gender disparities exacerbate tuberculosis (TB) challenges for women in India, which hosts 27% of the global TB burden. Released ahead of World TB Day 2025 (March 24), it highlights social, economic, and health system barriers, emphasising the need for gender-sensitive approaches in India’s TB elimination efforts by 2025.

1. India’s TB Load: India accounts for 27% of the world’s 10 million annual TB cases, with 480,000 deaths yearly, disproportionately affecting women due to gender-specific barriers.
2. Gender Disparity: Men face higher TB prevalence (India TB Report 2023), linked to smoking and occupational risks (e.g., mining), but women suffer more from under-diagnosis and treatment access issues.
3. Social Stigma: Women hide TB due to fear of abandonment or violence, delaying care; survivor Akshata Acharya notes mental toll (e.g., isolation) outweighs logistics during her MDR-TB recovery (2021-23).
4. Economic Barriers: Women’s unpaid housework and limited financial autonomy hinder treatment adherence; loss of income or family support worsens outcomes.
5. Government Schemes: Nikshay Poshan Yojana offers ₹1,000 monthly to TB patients; Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan provides community nutritional aid, yet gaps persist for women.
6. Policy Need: NGOs urge gender-sensitive strategies—e.g., evening clinics, nutritional support for the poorest—to address women’s unique challenges in TB care.
7. Health System Critique: Rigid, male-centric TB programs overlook women’s needs; experts call for inclusive, flexible approaches to close the diagnosis-treatment gap.
8. Vision 2025: India aims to eradicate TB by 2025, requiring targeted interventions for women to bridge the 8 lakh unreported cases (2020 estimate).

Key Terms:

• TB: Tuberculosis, a bacterial infection primarily affecting the lungs.
• Gender Disparity: Unequal health outcomes due to societal gender roles.
• MDR-TB: Multi-Drug-Resistant TB, resistant to standard treatments.
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana: Scheme providing financial aid to TB patients.
• Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: Initiative for community-supported TB care.
• Stigma: Social discrimination deterring TB care-seeking.
• India TB Report 2023: Annual report detailing TB trends and challenges.

Link To The Original Article – https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/tb-and-women-why-gender-matters-more-than-ever/article69349362.ece