Managing Fear
The presence of tuberculosis in some societies involves ritualistic processes to be completed to in the hope of clearing the ailment. The patient may be imbibed into this form of thinking and prefers to undergo the rituals due to fears of medicine. The fear has its base in poor awareness. The manageability of tuberculosis in these cases involves an understanding and due respect for the cultural mores of the society. The head of the society may be viewed as the source of wisdom and any hope of educating people must have the concurrence and advocacy of the head.
Secrecy
The doctors on their part must be under oath of secrecy regarding the outcomes of the tests if there is a threat to livelihood on account of tuberculosis. If the patient is cleared of posing a risk to others, there is no need to stop work. The patient must remain away from contact with others during the period before the medicines start to take effect. This communication must be managed with care and should take the family into confidence. The patient is likely to refuse to get sputum checks done for fear of the diagnosis of tuberculosis. If the patient is the sole wage earner, the survival of the family comes under pressure. Secrecy is essential to prevent employers taking a contrary stand to supporting the patient on grounds of inability to work and endangering other workers due to tuberculosis.
Assurance
The medical fraternity must assure the immediate family of the presence of rules to prevent the information of a tuberculosis being made available to outsiders. At the same time, there may be a need to carry out tests of people who have been in contact with the patient’s family. The patient must have the added assurance that outsiders are not informed of the presence of tuberculosis by the medical fraternity. The public awareness increases the possibility of a stigma affecting the entire family and information reaching the employer.
Old mores
The earlier views regarding tuberculosis highlight the possibility of spreading. These are relevant fears in the light of the absence of modern research understanding. Interior locations that have yet to see the spread of knowledge about current findings will continue to rely on old methods of management. These methods may assure that a patient is isolated but the lack of knowledge about how the disease spreads continues to make tuberculosis patients face a high mortality rate due to inadequate care.
Suspicion
Some people are suspicious about the presence of youngsters who come with information about the care of the patient and surrounding villagers. Strong paradigms about tuberculosis and the need to hold on to existing cultural mores come in the way of acceptance of the information. In such cases it is relevant to speak to the local head and explain the curability of tuberculosis through modern ways. The paternalism prevalent in these societies allow for quick acceptance of information that has been accepted by the local head. The allaying of suspicion is a pre-requisite to reaching medical care to the patient and containing the spread of tuberculosis.