Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37670253›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2023

The lived experiences of tuberculosis survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic and government lockdown in South Africa: a qualitative analysis.

Ann Scheunemann, Aneesa Moolla, Constance Mongwenyana, Neliswe Mkize, Mohammed Rassool, Vuyokazi Jezile, Denise Evans

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 24% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Inner Strength-A Systematic Review of Qualitative Empirical Studies.Scandinavian journal of caring sciences · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Tuberculosis (TB) service utilisation pre and peri-COVID-19 restrictions in Johannesburg, Gauteng.South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Lived experiences of tuberculosis patients accessing treatment during COVID-19 in Zimbabwe.South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care · 2026
    Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Ann ScheunemannHealth Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. ascheunemann@gmail.com.
Aneesa MoollaHealth Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Constance MongwenyanaHealth Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Neliswe MkizeSchool of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Mohammed RassoolClinical HIV Research Unit, Helen Joseph Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Vuyokazi JezileClinical HIV Research Unit, Helen Joseph Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Denise EvansHealth Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
University of the Witwatersrand · ZAHelen Joseph Hospital · ZA

Funding

Partnership for Global Health Research Training Program (Renewal)-Supplement for OBSSR, NCI, NCI-AIDS and NIDCDD43TW010543 · FIC · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · PI Wafaie W Fawzi, DAVIDSON HOWES HAMER · 2017 to 2026
$12.1M
FIC NIH HHS D43 TW010543
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTuberculosis (TB) is a major health concern in South Africa, where prior to COVID-19 it was associated with more deaths than any other infectious disease. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted gains made in the global response to TB, having a serious impact on the most vulnerable. COVID-19 and TB are both severe respiratory infections, where infection with one places individuals at increased risk for negative health outcomes for the other. Even after completing TB treatment, TB survivors remain economically vulnerable and continue to be negatively affected by TB.

methodsThis cross-sectional qualitative study, which was part of a larger longitudinal study in South Africa, explored how TB survivors' experienced the COVID-19 pandemic and government restrictions. Participants were identified through purposive sampling and were recruited and interviewed at a large public hospital in Gauteng. Data were analyzed thematically, using a constructivist research paradigm and both inductive and deductive codebook development.

resultsParticipants (n = 11) were adults (24-74 years of age; more than half male or foreign nationals) who had successfully completed treatment for pulmonary TB in the past two years. Participants were generally found to be physically, socioeconomically, and emotionally vulnerable, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating or causing a recurrence of many of the same stressors they had faced with TB. Coping strategies during COVID similarly mirrored those used during TB diagnosis and treatment, including social support, financial resources, distraction, spirituality, and inner strength.

conclusionsImplications and suggestions for future directions include fostering and maintaining a strong network of social support for TB survivors.

Indexed as

COVID-19TuberculosisAdultCommunicable Disease ControlCross-Sectional StudiesGovernmentHumansLongitudinal StudiesMalePandemicsSouth AfricaCopingCOVID-19South AfricaTuberculosis

Identifiers

PMID37670253
PMCPMC10481461
OpenAlexW4386440069

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.