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Although more men are affected by TB, women and transgender persons experience the disease differently. Gender differences and inequalities play a significant role in how people of all gender access and receive healthcare services.

Gender difference in Men Women
Incidence of TB
  • Higher proportion of men(approximately- 2:1) are diagnosed with TB than women
  • More likely to have microbiologically confirmed Pulmonary TB
  • More likely to have Clinically diagnosed pulmonary TB and extra – pulmonary forms of TB
  • Prevalence of HIV-TB co-infection is higher among women who live in overcrowded houses and consume alcohol
  • High Risk for developing TB – Pregnant women and women in the postpartum period
Exposure, Risk & Vulnerability
  • Smoking and alcohol consumption among men
  • High risk for developing TB - employment in mining, quarrying, metals and construction industries
Undernutrition, their role as caretakers and the use of solid fuel for cooking puts women at risk for TB
Health Seeking & Health system factors
  • Fear of loss of income and the consequences of absence from work hinder care seeking.
  • Women face difficulties due to perceived stigma, prioritization of household chores, lack of money or financial dependence
Treatment Outcomes
  • Pressure to get back to work and lifestyle habits such as smoking or consumption of alcohol influence discontinuation of treatment in men
  • Non-citizen workers, mostly men, often face difficulties in adherence to treatment in the face of extreme poverty and issues of daily survival
  • Women tend to have better adherence and treatment outcome as compared to men
  • Stigma and discrimination are major impediments to treatment adherence, mainly among unmarried women, newly married women and the elderly

Transgender population often has low literacy, low education levels and are poor. A high proportion of transgender persons are known to smoke, consume alcohol and use drugs. All these factors make them vulnerable to TB.

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