Health · Public Health & Disease · 2 hrs ago
People with TB describe stigma and pressure to hide their diagnosis
Three women in India described stigma after TB diagnoses.
Anamika, 26, said a family friend advised her to tell only her human resources team and manager at work.
She kept the diagnosis private, but coworkers then accused her of getting an unfair work-from-home privilege.
Arachika Kapoor’s grandmother told her not to tell her boyfriend, fearing his family might oppose their marriage.
Kapoor’s boyfriend, who is now her husband, did not follow that advice.
Prachi Kumari said some college friends kept their distance after she was diagnosed with pulmonary TB in 2022, while she was also coping with serious effects on her left lung.
Their experiences show how fear and false assumptions about TB can add social pressure to a health problem that needs treatment.
People diagnosed with tuberculosis describe pressure to hide their diagnosis and stigma from people around them.
Anamika, 26, said a family friend advised her to tell only HR and her manager at work.
After following that advice, she said coworkers accused her of receiving unfair work-from-home privileges.
Arachika Kapoor said her grandmother warned her not to tell her boyfriend because his mother might oppose their marriage.
Prachi Kumari said some college friends kept their distance or asked her not to sit near them.
- Who
- People diagnosed with TB, including Anamika, Arachika Kapoor and Prachi Kumari, describe stigma.
- What
- They recount advice to hide their diagnoses and distancing or other uncomfortable treatment.
- When
- Prachi Kumari was diagnosed in 2022. Dates for the other accounts are not stated.
- Where
- The accounts include Anamika’s workplace and Prachi’s college; the country is not stated.
- Why
- Some people feared judgment, infection or effects on marriage and relationships. The article describes these beliefs as baseless assumptions about TB.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Prachi Kumari was diagnosed with pulmonary TB.
Some of Prachi’s college friends began keeping their distance or asked her not to sit near them.
She followed advice to keep her TB diagnosis from coworkers, then faced accusations of receiving unfair work-from-home privileges.
- Anamika’s age
- 26
- Prachi Kumari’s diagnosis
- Pulmonary TB in 2022
- Workplace advice
- Tell only HR and her immediate manager
- Kapoor’s grandmother’s advice
- Do not tell her boyfriend
What people are saying
Is it something shameful? Do I need to hide it from people? Are they going to start treating me differently just because I caught a disease that was beyond my control?
Do not tell your boyfriend
No, I never felt ashamed of having TB. I saw it as a health problem that needed treatment, and my main concern was getting better,