Depression and stigma experience among patients with tuberculosis in urban and rural settings

Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the globe. The most common infectious disease-related death in the world is tuberculosis. In 2020, an estimated 9.9 million people became ill with tuberculosis (TB), translating to 127 cases per 100,000 people. The stigma associated with tuberculosis (TB) causes people to put off seeking treatment and adhering to their treatment regimen. India has the highest prevalence of tuberculosis in the world. Depression and stigma oftem co-exist in people with tuberculosis.

To estimate the prevalence of depression and stigma experience among patients with tuberculosis, and to determine the association of socio-demographic variables and stigma experience with depression in urban and rural field practice areas.

This is a cross-sectional study where purposive sampling method was adopted. A house-to-house and phone interview was conducted using a pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire. Depression was assessed using the PHQ-9 and stigma experience was assessed using the Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness - 8 items (SSCI -8 Items). SPSS version 25 was used (licensed to the institution)for analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to calculate proportions, mean, standard deviation. Inferential statistics like Chi-square analysis/Fisher's exact analysis were used to find the association between various socio-demographic variables with the depression among patients with tuberculosis and association between stigma experience and depression. (Yates continuity Highlights correction applied wherever required) p < 0.5 was considered to be statistically significant.

The overall prevalence of depression was 57.8%. The association between number of family members and type of tuberculosis with depression was statistically significant. 28.6% did not experience stigma, while 71.6% did. The association between depression score and stigma experience was not statistically significant.

More than half of the study's participants had depression and had encountered stigma. There was significant association between depression scores with family size and type of tuberculosis.