title: Gender-related factors influencing tuberculosis control in shantytowns: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is evidence that female gender is associated with reduced likelihood of tuberculosis diagnosis and successful treatment. This study aimed to characterize gender-related barriers to tuberculosis control in Peruvian shantytowns.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated attitudes and experiences relating gender to tuberculosis using the grounded theory approach to describe beliefs amongst key tuberculosis control stakeholders. These issues were explored in 22 semi-structured interviews and in four focus group discussions with 26 tuberculosis patients and 17 healthcare workers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the tuberculosis program was perceived not to be gender discriminatory and provided equal tuberculosis diagnostic and treatment care to men and women. This contrasted with stereotypical gender roles in the broader community context and a commonly expressed belief amongst patients and healthcare workers that female health inherently has a lower priority than male health. This belief was principally associated with men's predominant role in the household economy and limited employment for women in this setting. Women were also generally reported to experience the adverse psychosocial and economic consequences of tuberculosis diagnosis more than men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a common perception that women's tuberculosis care was of secondary importance to that of men. This reflected societal gender values and occurred despite apparent gender equality in care provision. The greatest opportunities for improving women's access to tuberculosis care appear to be in improving social, political and economic structures, more than tuberculosis program modification.
authors.affiliation: Asociación Benéfica PRISMA, Carlos Gonzales 251 Maranga, San Miguel, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Dami A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Onifade
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bayer
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montoya
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haro
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alva
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Valiente
authors.forename: Enit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valera
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Colleen D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: Carlton A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005783:Gender Identity; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru; D011204:Poverty Areas; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012737:Sex Factors; D063507:Sexism; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016387:Women's Health