Community-level stigma remains the most prevalent barrier to tuberculosis treatment in Kenya, affecting 68% of patients surveyed in a cross-sectional study spanning 180 health facilities across 11 counties between May 2023 and May 2024. The research team examined stigma across four domains—community, family, healthcare system, and personal—among 357 individuals diagnosed with TB. While community stigma dominated as the leading obstacle, the survey also documented substantial healthcare system stigma affecting more than half of patients. The data reveal significant gender disparities, with women reporting four times higher rates of stigma exposure than men. These quantitative findings provide evidence-based justification for prioritizing stigma mitigation as a core component of national TB control strategies, particularly interventions targeting women and community education campaigns.
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