Submission ID 131870
| Issue/Objective | Clinical interventions for patients with tuberculosis can be distressful and create a significant burden for them. Imposing isolation measures and directly observed therapy (DOT) for example are measures that pose challenges for patients. In Outaouais region (Québec), these challenges are all the more significant because tuberculosis disproportionately affects people from immigrant backgrounds, who already face difficulties related to their status such as socioeconomic constraints and systemic barriers. This study looks at testimonials of migrants treated for active TB in Outaouais (Québec), examining how those experiences are shaped by individual, social, and community dynamics. |
|---|---|
| Methodology/Approach | We conducted semi-structured interviews (45-60 minutes) with people diagnosed with active TB and followed through health services in the Outaouais region between 2023 and 2025. Out of 30 eligible individuals, 15 participated; most were born outside Canada (n=12) and were living in Canada for two years or less (n=8). Interviews conducted from August to November 2025 were analyzed inductively, with double coding and iterative comparison. We focused specifically on experiences of contact tracing, isolation, and DOT. |
| Results | Diagnosis announcement was often experienced as a shock, accompanied by fear, anxiety, and shame. Interactions with providers were generally perceived as empathetic and recognized as necessary for disease control. However, questions aimed at identifying contacts were perceived as intrusive or burdensome. Isolation requirements and directly observed therapy constraints intensified social and economic vulnerability, particularly among recent immigrants with limited support networks. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | While TB control measures are essential, a lack of attention to patients' social and migratory contexts may compromise their acceptability and inadvertently exacerbate patient vulnerability. In this context, this study contributes to improving global health equity by highlighting the need of person‑ and community‑centered approaches in TB patients, as presented in the following section. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Marie Merline Maurice CISSS de l'Outaouais Nathan Yanwou CISSS de l'Outaouais Emina Kubat CISSS de l'Outaouais Maïa Feki CISSS de l'Outaouais Fédousha Staya Clervil CISSS de l'Outaouais Alexandra-Teodora Sofinet CISSS de l'Outaouais Christelle Aicha Kom Mogto CISSS de l'Outaouais Marie Merline Maurice CISSS de l'Outaouais |
