The study aimed to understand how informal employment and gender-related issues intersect to affect timely TB diagnosis. Conducting in-depth interviews with 80 female TB patients and 60 of their significant others, the researchers found that normalization of TB symptoms as work-related health issues, fear of job and wage loss, and non-specific symptom narratives led to delays in seeking formal medical care. The study concluded that TB elimination programs should adopt a comprehensive approach that includes workplace interventions, especially in the informal sector, to address these challenges effectively.
