Tuberculosis is one of the most frequent causes of motility worldwide(2). Tuberculosis affect people directly or indirectly. This has influenced people’s behavior in different ways. Having this topic will allow one to gain knowledge on how this pandemic influences TB patient’s psycho social behavior.
TUBERCULOSIS AFFECTS THE WORLD
Tuberculosis is a disease that affects people worldwide. Cases of TB are reported in every country in the world. TB is ranked as the leading disease caused by an infection. It is estimated that 2 billion people (a third of the population of the world—are victims of the bacteria that causes TB(3). Each year, 9.6 million fall ill from TB and 1.5 million die(3). TB can be transmitted through air by coughing or even sneezing. With this being said, TB causes poverty and economic devastation. Woman, children and people who are immuno-compromised are affected mostly by the disease. There is an increasing resistance to the made available medicines, hence the disease is becoming more lethal and hard to treat(4).
SOCIAL EFFECTS OF TUBERCULOSIS
People diagnosed with TB my be stigmatized which influences their social behavior. As a result of how the disease is transmitted, people do not want to be associated with people who have TB(5). Patients with TB report that their quality of life is drastically impaired when compared to people who do not have TB. Women are said to be more affected by this than men(5). Patients infected with TB may fear that they are unable to carry on with their routine life due to the impact their infection may have on their family(6).
EFFECTS OF TB ON THE ECONOMY
People living with this disease my leave work because of inability to work. This action causes a major decrease in the economy’s GDP because of the productivity that is cut down(7). The poorer countries in the world have the highest prevalence of TB. Hence they become even poor. The disease affects young people also and can impact on the most productive years of the person’s life which is problematic to the country’s economy(8). Tuberculosis not only affects the county’s GDP but also individuals living with the disease. Traveling to get medicines is very costly, especially when the medical facilities are away from one’s habitat(9). Being diagnosed with TB also affect patients emotionally. One ends up feeling so down and keeping a distance from people. Loneliness in that way results.
CONCLUSION
Learning more on TB can reduce the effects it has on psycho-social behavior on the society. Structures are being put into place so as to overcome the goal of eradicating the pandemic of Tuberculosis(10). People should work together to tackle and surpass this disease affecting our communities.
11 References
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