# Facing tuberculosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: the perspective of those who experienced it

## TL;DR

This study explores how the COVID-19 pandemic affected tuberculosis management through the experiences of those who had the disease during this time.

## Contribution

The paper provides a novel qualitative perspective on the intersection of tuberculosis care and the pandemic from the viewpoint of affected individuals.

## Key findings

- The pandemic worsened programmatic and social vulnerabilities in tuberculosis care.
- Issues like treatment interruption, delayed diagnosis, and stigma were reported.
- Home visits and directly observed treatment were notably reduced during the pandemic.

## Abstract

to understand the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of tuberculosis, from the perspective of individuals who experienced the disease during this period.

this is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach. Eleven individuals participated in the study, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were processed using the IRAMUTEQ software (Interface de R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires) and analyzed using content analysis techniques, as proposed by Bardin.

four categories emerged, through which it was possible to identify that the pandemic contributed to generating or exacerbating programmatic and social vulnerabilities, such as the lack of home visits and Directly Observed Treatment, treatment interruption, delays, and errors in diagnosis, as well as stigmatization.

There is an inferred need to strengthen policies and investments to ensure that tuberculosis control and monitoring actions are maintained, even during public health crises.

compreender as repercussões da pandemia de COVID-19 no enfrentamento da tuberculose, a partir do olhar das pessoas que vivenciaram a doença nesse período.

pesquisa descritiva, com abordagem qualitativa. Participaram da pesquisa 11 indivíduos, e foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas. Os dados foram processados pelo software IRAMUTEQ (Interface de R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires) e analisados por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo, proposta por Bardin.

emergiram quatro categorias, através das quais foi possível identificar que a pandemia contribuiu para gerar ou potencializar vulnerabilidades programáticas e sociais, tais como: a não realização de visitas domiciliares e do Tratamento Diretamente Observado, interrupção do tratamento, atraso e equívocos no diagnóstico, além da estigmatização.

infere-se a necessidade de fortalecer políticas e investimentos para que as ações de controle e acompanhamento da tuberculose sejam mantidas, mesmo em períodos de crises sanitárias.