Experiences of Stigmatization among Muslim Tuberculosis Patients: A Qualitative Study
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Abstract
Objective: To study the stigma in Muslim patients with tuberculosis (TB) and their handling of stigma. Methods: This qualitative study collected the data by in-depth interviewing 10 Muslim patients with TB receiving care from Sungai Padi Hospital at Narathiwat and having high or low levels of perceived stigmatization compared to those of other patients as measured by the stigma scale. Results: Three reasons leading to the stigmatization of TB were the belief that TB was a deadly and easily communicable disease, the belief that TB was despised by society and the separation of health services for TB patients from the other patients espousing the first two beliefs. Those with high levels of these beliefs felt high levels of stigmatization. There were 5 aspects of being stigmatized 1) being hated by the others 2) being embarrassed 3) being fear 4) feeling loss and 5) feeling the reduced roles and right. The feeling of being stigmatized led the informants to handle the strains with 4 methods that were avoidance of telling the truth, isolation of oneself from normal life, being frustrated and sad, and being adhere to the treatment in hope for cure. Successful management of strains from the stigma involved the use of religious as spiritual anchor and guidance for actions, support from those within social network and counteracting the immersion of oneself in stigma by other activities. Conclusion: TB stigma could be reduced by the provision of education by culturally competent health professionals to Muslim TB patients and their communities in the way consistent to their cultures such as the application of religious principle in treatment, the empowerment of family members to be supportive and the arrangement of TB clubs among patients. Moreover, hospitals should reconsider their TB services in order to avoid structural stigma.
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ผลการวิจัยและความคิดเห็นที่ปรากฏในบทความถือเป็นความคิดเห็นและอยู่ในความรับผิดชอบของผู้นิพนธ์ มิใช่ความเห็นหรือความรับผิดชอบของกองบรรณาธิการ หรือคณะเภสัชศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยสงขลานครินทร์ ทั้งนี้ไม่รวมความผิดพลาดอันเกิดจากการพิมพ์ บทความที่ได้รับการเผยแพร่โดยวารสารเภสัชกรรมไทยถือเป็นสิทธิ์ของวารสารฯ
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