Context : Gender Disparities in TB Burden
- Women face unique challenges in TB diagnosis and treatment due to social and economic barriers.
- The India TB Report 2023 states men are more affected due to smoking, drug use, and occupational exposure, but women face under-diagnosis and delayed care.
Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues , Health )
Stigma and Discrimination
- Women with TB often face social isolation, loss of employment, and abandonment by families.
- Post-treatment challenges include skin discoloration, physical weakness, and mental health struggles.
- Cultural norms discourage open discussion of TB, leading to hidden cases and late-stage detection.
Barriers to Accessing Treatment
- Financial dependence makes it difficult for women to afford treatment and nutritious food.
- Caregiver burden forces many women to prioritize family duties over their health.
- Lack of awareness and healthcare-seeking behavior leads to untreated TB cases.
Government Initiatives and Shortcomings
- Nikshay Poshan Yojana provides ₹1,000/month for TB patients, but access remains inconsistent.
- Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan mobilizes community support for nutritional assistance.
- The National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) targets 2025 for TB elimination, but challenges in implementation persist.
India’s TB Burden: The Bigger Picture
- India accounts for 27% of global TB cases; 331,000 deaths occurred in 2022.
- Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) is rising, with 2.5% of new cases and 13% of treated cases affected.
- HIV-TB co-infection complicates treatment for around 2% of TB patients.
The Way Forward
- Strengthen gender-sensitive healthcare policies to ensure early diagnosis and support.
- Improve financial and social assistance programs to prevent treatment abandonment.
- Enhance community awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and misinformation.
- Ensure robust implementation of benefit schemes with active monitoring and accountability.
