Uğur DOĞAN, Sema AYTAÇ, Meltem SUNGUR
Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing - 2026;34(1):1-9
AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between feelings of stigma in tuberculosis (TB) patients and the social support provided by their household contacts, who are family members. METHODS: This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationship between feelings of stigma in TB patients and the social support provided by their household contacts in southern Türkiye (81 patients and 81 household contacts). The data were collected between May and August 2022 using Individual Information Forms, the Tuberculosis-Related Stigma Scale, and the Provided Social Support Scale. RESULTS: Although household contacts with higher education and income provided more social support (p < .05), these characteristics did not predict stigma levels among patients (p > .05). A low level of social support provided to TB patients by their household contacts was associated with more feelings of stigma, from both patient perspective and community perspective (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Household contacts should be encouraged to develop positive behavioral changes toward TB. Awareness of household contacts should be raised about the importance of social support in TB by health professionals. Thus, by increasing the social support provided to TB patients through household contacts, patients' feelings of stigma can be reduced.
