Gender Disparity of Tuberculosis Burden in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The tuberculosis burden is higher in the population from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and differently affects gender. This review explored risk factors that determine gender disparity in tuberculosis in LMICs. The research design was a systematic review. Three databases; Google Scholar, PubMed, and HINARI provided 69 eligible papers.The synthesized data were coded, grouped and written in a descriptive narrative style. HIV-TB co-infected women had a higher risk of mortality than TB-HIV-infected men. The risk of Vitamin-D deficiency-induced tuberculosis was higher in women than in men. Lymph node TB, breast TB, and cutaneous and abdominal TB occurred commonly in women whereas pleuritis, miliary TB, meningeal TB, pleural TB and bone and joint TB were common in men. Employed men had higher contact with tuberculosis patients and an increased chance of getting the disease. Migrant women were more likely to develop tuberculosis than migrant men. The TB programmers and policymakers should balance the different gaps of gender in TB-related activities and consider more appropriate approaches to be genderbased and have equal access to every TB-associated healthcare.