Objective:

To characterize the knowledge, attitudes and practices of health professionals that reflect stigma and discrimination facing tuberculosis (TB) in critical municipalities of the Colombian Pacific Coast.

Materials and Methods:

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 13 health professionals, linked to TB programs in 4 critical municipalities in the Colombian Pacific Coast in the Department of Nariño. In-depth interviews and focus groups were conducted.

Results:

Health professionals have adequate knowledge about the disease and its treatment, but their beliefs about some TB causes and some attitudes towards patients with the disease reflect stigma. Their practices were not very discriminatory towards TB patients and their families, and they even have risk practices for their health such as not using biosecurity measures in order to avoid making patients feel discriminated. The majority of the professionals reported being discriminated against for their work which implies daily contact with patients and high risk of infection, attitudes that arise from their relatives and other professionals in the health sector.

Conclusions:

The results of this study point out important attention focus to be attended in the actions of prevention of stigma and discrimination against people with TB which have not been reported by quantitative studies in the country.

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