{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,27]],"date-time":"2026-10-27T19:21:23Z","timestamp":1793128883344,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,22]],"date-time":"2025-12-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1766361600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Coordena\u00e7\u00e3o de Aperfei\u00e7oamento de Pessoal de N\u00edvel Superior\u2014Brazil (CAPES)\u2014Finance Code 001","award":["306469\/2025-1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["306469\/2025-1"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study aimed to identify scientific evidence that addresses women\u2019s experiences in the process of illness and care during tuberculosis treatment. A systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted based on the Joanna Briggs Institute\u2019s Manual for Evidence Synthesis and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches were performed in the Web of Science, MEDLINE, Embase, SciVerse Scopus, and LILACS databases. The following descriptors were used: \u201cWomen,\u201d \u201cTuberculosis,\u201d \u201cGender Perspective,\u201d and \u201cQualitative Approach.\u201d Studies reporting the experiences of women with active tuberculosis, published in any language, without time restrictions, were included. Of the 16,029 studies initially identified, 7079 duplicates were removed and 8895 were excluded after title and abstract screening. A total of 55 studies were read in full, of which 41 did not meet the eligibility criteria, resulting in a final inclusion of 14 studies. Most selected studies were conducted in high-tuberculosis-burden, low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2024. All studies focused on pulmonary tuberculosis, with one addressing drug-resistant tuberculosis. The results revealed that women\u2019s experiences with tuberculosis are shaped by the following four thematic categories: (1) stigma and social vulnerability of women with tuberculosis; (2) gender factors in access to health services and in the interruption of tuberculosis treatment among women; (3) intersectionality and social determinants of health; and (4) the importance of social, family, and healthcare support in the experience of tuberculosis illness. The experience of illness due to tuberculosis among women is profoundly shaped by vulnerabilities related to gender, stigma, and social class, which intensify social exclusion, hinder access to diagnosis and treatment, and deepen physical and emotional suffering. Stigma reinforces isolation and weakens support networks, while the burden of domestic labor, caregiving responsibilities, and economic dependence makes it difficult for women to prioritize their own health. In this context, family support and gender-sensitive, humanized healthcare are essential. Therefore, the implementation of public policies that address these specificities and confront structural inequalities is urgent to ensure comprehensive care and a dignified, effective recovery for women with tuberculosis.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph23010018","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,23]],"date-time":"2025-12-23T11:30:18Z","timestamp":1766489418000},"page":"18","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Women\u2019s Experiences in the Process of Illness and Care During Tuberculosis Treatment: Systematic Review of a Qualitative Evidence"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"23","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0859-3117","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana Lu\u00edza Brasileiro Nato Marques","family":"Assump\u00e7\u00e3o","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Ribeir\u00e3o Preto College of Nursing, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Ribeir\u00e3o Preto 14040-902, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fl\u00e1via Correia","family":"Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ribeir\u00e3o Preto College of Nursing, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Ribeir\u00e3o Preto 14040-902, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4115-3022","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Licia Kellen de Almeida","family":"Andrade","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ribeir\u00e3o Preto College of Nursing, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Ribeir\u00e3o Preto 14040-902, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Qu\u00e9zia Rosa","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ribeir\u00e3o Preto College of Nursing, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Ribeir\u00e3o Preto 14040-902, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2059-6959","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gilberto da Cruz","family":"Leal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ribeir\u00e3o Preto College of Nursing, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Ribeir\u00e3o Preto 14040-902, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M\u00f4nica Cristina Ribeiro Alexandre d\u2019Auria de","family":"Lima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ribeir\u00e3o Preto College of Nursing, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Ribeir\u00e3o Preto 14040-902, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Isabela Zaccaro","family":"Rigolin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ribeir\u00e3o Preto College of Nursing, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Ribeir\u00e3o Preto 14040-902, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"J\u00falia J\u00e9ssica de","family":"Moraes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ribeir\u00e3o Preto College of Nursing, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Ribeir\u00e3o Preto 14040-902, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jos\u00e9 Nildo de Barros","family":"Silva Junior","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ribeir\u00e3o Preto College of Nursing, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Ribeir\u00e3o Preto 14040-902, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5843-1733","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rubia Laine de Paula","family":"Andrade-Gon\u00e7alves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ribeir\u00e3o Preto College of Nursing, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Ribeir\u00e3o Preto 14040-902, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4532-3992","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"M\u00f4nica Maria de Jesus","family":"Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ribeir\u00e3o Preto College of Nursing, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Ribeir\u00e3o Preto 14040-902, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pedro Fredemir","family":"Palha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ribeir\u00e3o Preto College of Nursing, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Ribeir\u00e3o Preto 14040-902, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6585-2560","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jaqueline Garcia de Almeida","family":"Ballestero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ribeir\u00e3o Preto College of Nursing, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Ribeir\u00e3o Preto 14040-902, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2024). 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