Understanding and Challenging TB Stigma: Toolkit for Action

This toolkit was developed as part of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance’s regional training programme, conducted in partnership with the Zambia AIDS-Related Tuberculosis (TB) Project (ZAMBART) involving participatory workshops with health-workers, people living with HIV, and ex-TB patients. The toolkit was developed in response to the need to address TB stigma, especially where TB and HIV co-infection rates are high.

This toolkit is meant to help trainers plan and organise participatory educational sessions with community leaders or organised groups to raise awareness and promote practical action to challenge HIV and TB stigma and discrimination. This toolkit is primarily intended for use by non-governmental organisation (NGO) support programmes in Africa who are working on, or intend to work on, TB- and HIV-related issues.

The publication contains a range of participatory games, exercises, and picture tools to help address TB stigma. Sections include the following:

• Naming TB stigma through pictures
• How has TB affected my life? (reflection)
• Naming TB stigma in different contexts
• Forms, effects, and causes of TB stigma
• Assessing baseline knowledge
• Fears about getting TB (risk continuum)
• Fears about getting TB at home
• Countering myths and misconceptions
• TB diagnosis and stigma
• Do’s, Don'ts, and DOTS
• Challenging TB stigma in health facilities
• TB-HIV link
• The burden of secrecy
• Sharing the burden of care
• TB and human rights
• How men and women experience TB stigma
• Children and the wall of silence
• To tell or not to tell (children and information)
• Empowerment and action planning