TB-related Knowledge and Stigma Among Pregnant Women in Low Resource Settings of Pune, India

TB is an important cause of maternal morbidity.1 Studies among adults with TB in several countries have consistently demonstrated that a lack of TB-related knowledge and increased stigma can be a barrier to early diagnosis, seeking treatment and treatment adherence.2–6 India has the highest number of pregnant women with TB, raising significant challenges in early diagnosis and access to treatment.7 To our knowledge, no studies have specifically examined TB-related knowledge and stigma among pregnant women, a particularly vulnerable population who tend to seek healthcare frequently.8 Our study addresses this gap by assessing TB prevalence and factors contributing to TB-related knowledge and stigma in pregnant women from urban India.

We conducted a cohort study, ‘Impact of Immune Changes of HIV and Stages of Pregnancy on Tuberculosis (PRACHITi)’, among pregnant women from June 2016 to 2019 at Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College (BJGMC) in urban Pune, India, which primarily serves a low-income population. The study participants consisted of HIV-infected and HIV-negative pregnant women, with and without latent TB infection (LTBI). A convenience sample of pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at BJGMC were eligible for the PRACHITi study if they were between 18 and 40 years old, with a gestational age between 13–34 weeks. Women with active TB were excluded from this study.