Journal of Public Health (United Kingdom)
Volume 39, Issue 4, 2017, Pages 821-827

A qualitative study exploring awareness and attitudes towards tuberculosis in migrant populations in a metropolitan district council in the North of England (Article) (Open Access)

Humphreys C.E.* , Lee A. , Offer C. , Spencer-Henshall R. , Okereke E.
  • a Public Health England South East, Chilton, OX11 0RQ, United Kingdom
  • b Public Health England, Blenheim House, Duncombe Street, Leeds, LS1 4PL, United Kingdom, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA, United Kingdom
  • c Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, Wakefield One, Burton Street, Wakefield, WF1 2EB, United Kingdom
  • d Kirklees Council, Civic Centre, 3, Market Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2TG, United Kingdom
  • e Public Health England, Wellington House, Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, United Kingdom

Abstract

Background The majority of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the UK occur among people born in high-burden countries (73%), and are concentrated in large urban centres. This study explores migrants’ attitudes and beliefs towards TB in an English District where the incidence is higher than the UK average. Methods Community engagement workers ran 26 focus groups using a standardized questionnaire. Purposeful sampling was used to obtain a cross-section of migrant communities. The summary reports were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Most groups did not see TB as a current issue in their community and associated it either with the past or with their country of birth. It appeared to be rarely discussed in their communities and generally not noted as being associated with stigma. Conclusions This study revealed a change in social attitudes to TB in migrant groups to those reported in previous literature. Stigma had considerably less effect than expected. However, the evidence revealed that these high-risk groups made the erroneous assumption that, by moving to a low incidence country, they were no longer at risk of the disease. TB services need to respond by revising the information that they provide to take into account the risk perception of these populations. © The Author 2017.

Author Keywords

Communicable diseases Ethnicity beliefs

Index Keywords

information processing male England urban population tuberculosis risk factor Risk Factors Humans Transients and Migrants Focus Groups Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice qualitative research attitude to health psychology human Health Behavior migration
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042434468&doi=10.1093%2fpubmed%2ffdx061&partnerID=40&md5=33e6f20e1e38d04a18418125061a936e
DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdx061
ISSN: 17413842
Original Language: English