Gender Differentials in Tuberculosis: Impact of Socio-Economic and Cultural Factors Among the Tribals of Northeast India

The cross-sectional sample included 167 adult males and 153 adult females in the age group (20-40) yrs who were diagnosed and confirmed cases of tuberculosis. The data was collected from August 2000 to July 2001 from different TB centers in Manipur, Northeast India. The socio-economic and cultural factors were assessed from the living conditions, literacy status, annual per capita income, occupation, marital status, age at marriage and BCG vaccination status. Female patients were found to have significantly lower level of socio-economic status as judged from education level, occupations or living condition as compared to their male counterparts. Female patients were also found to marry at a very young age and they were also found to take their TB medicines regularly than their counterpart males.