Punjabi University study reveals TB’s social realities: Married women patients more supported by natal families than In-Laws
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/November 30,2025
A recent Ph.D. research conducted at Punjabi University, has brought to light various health, social, psychological and familial challenges faced by tuberculosis (TB) patients in Punjab. The study, completed under the supervision of Prof. Hardeep Kaur, Department of Social Work, was carried out by scholar Dr. Harpreet Singh.
Speaking about the research, Prof. Hardeep Kaur said that the study is based on 300 TB patients selected from six high-burden districts of Punjab — Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Sangrur and Patiala. Significant gender differences were found in health and family-related problems. Similarly, psychological and familial issues varied considerably between patients living in joint families and nuclear families. An interesting field observation was that married female patients were more often brought for treatment by their natal (parental) family rather than their marital family.
Prof. Kaur further revealed that pronounced gender differences in coping strategies were recorded — highest in Sangrur district (19 strategies), followed by Patiala and Amritsar (7 each), Ludhiana (2), and only one each in Gurdaspur and Jalandhar.
Dr. Harpreet Singh told that the key objectives of the research were to assess patients’ awareness about the disease, explore the health, social, psychological, economic and familial problems they face, and study the coping strategies they adopt. The findings showed adequate knowledge among patients about TB, with pulmonary TB being the most common type and cough identified as the primary mode of transmission. X-ray and sputum tests were the most widely used diagnostic tools, while widespread adoption of the Government of India’s DOTS therapy was an encouraging sign.
Prof. Hardeep Kaur and Dr. Harpreet Singh emphasised that the research outcomes hold immense value for policymakers, health administrators, social workers and NGOs engaged in TB control and patient welfare in Punjab.
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jagdeep Singh congratulated both the scholar and the supervisor, stating that Punjabi University has always been recognised for research and academic activities aimed at societal betterment. He added that studies like this are crucial to understanding the real ground situation regarding fear, stigma, social misconceptions and taboos associated with TB, and to move towards effective solutions.
