ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria remains among the countries with the highest tuberculosis (TB) burden worldwide, and experts say stigma may be fuelling the crisis despite the disease being curable.
The 2023/2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), released Thursday, reveals that 54% of unmarried women and 48% of unmarried men would not marry a TB survivor.
Public health experts warn this rejection discourages disclosure, delays testing, and sustains community transmission.
“This stigma is a hidden epidemic within the epidemic,” said Dr. Adaobi Nwosu, a public health specialist, in an interview with Africa Health Report on Friday. “When people fear rejection even after cure, they avoid care, and the disease keeps spreading.”
The NDHS further shows that 29% of men and 21% of women experienced at least one TB symptom in the survey year, such as chronic cough or chest pain. Analysts note that men, who report symptoms more frequently, may also face deeper stigma in relationships, compounding their vulnerability.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) stresses that TB survivors who complete treatment are no longer infectious. Yet misinformation and prejudice continue to drive fear in Nigerian communities, undermining TB control efforts.
Dr. Nwosu argue that ending TB in Nigeria requires not only diagnostics and treatment but also a social shift. Combating stigma through education, awareness, and community engagement, he says, is as crucial as expanding access to medical care.
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