Tuberculosis and Tobacco Integration: Public Education Resources

Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease that is a major cause of ill health, one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. India accounts for the highest number of TB cases in the world affecting over 2.6 million Indians every year. India is also the second-largest consumer of tobacco globally, with more than one-third adults in the country using tobacco in some form or the other. A total of 46.3% of TB patients, predominantly males (89.6% males and 10.3% females) were found to be current users of tobacco

Tuberculosis and tobacco use are two major public health challenges that independently cause considerable health and economic burden in India, with profound socioeconomic implications. To support the Government of India’s strategy to END TB, Vital Strategies has released two public education resources: Responses to Public Service Announcements about Tuberculosis and its Comorbidities: A White Paper on the findings from a pre-testing study in India and End Tobacco to Eliminate TB: Communication Toolkit.

The white paper provides insights into tested campaign concepts and messages that when integrated into TB interventions, encourage behavior change in relation to TB prevention and treatment, including increasing knowledge of the signs and symptoms of disease, reducing stigma and discrimination, enhancing health service utilization, and improving treatment adherence. The communication toolkit provides ready to use materials for mass media, digital and social media to support the public, civil society and governments to spread awareness on the link between TB and tobacco. 

Download:

Responses to Public Service Announcements about Tuberculosis and its Comorbidities: A White Paper on the findings from a pre-testing study in India 

End Tobacco to Eliminate TB: Communication Toolkit.