Ending TB means responding to socially produced vulnerabilities of all genders
Beate Ringwald, Amon Ashaba Mwiine, Jeremiah Chikovore, Goodman Makanda, Jerry Amoah-Larbi, Kerry Millington, Katherine C. Horton
Abstract
Globally and in Africa, tuberculosis (TB) affects more men than women, as masculine norms, behaviours, and practices can increase likelihood of exposure to TB whilst undermining engagement in TB care (1). The WHO Africa region remains particularly affected, accounting for nearly a quarter (23%) of the estimated 10.6 million people who developed TB and close to a third (31%) of the 1.6 million people who died from the disease in 2021 (2), despite being home to only 15% of the world’s population (3). 25 African countries are considered high burden countries for TB, HIV-associated TB, and drug-resistant TB (2). TB affects close to 6 million men globally and 1.3 million men in the WHO Africa region every year (2), undermining their physical health, mental well-being, and capacity to contribute to their families and communities.