Abstract Background: With one-third of the world’s drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) cases, India is one of the nations with the highest number of patients. Limited treatment options, long duration of treatment, and associated toxicity adversely impact the physical and mental well-being of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients. Objectives: The study describes the challenges and psychosocial barriers faced by MDR-TB patients and their caregivers throughout the diagnosis and treatment process. Materials and Methods: A mixed-method study was conducted among MDR-TB patients who are currently under treatment in Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts. A semistructured pretested questionnaire that had both quantitative and qualitative parts was used. Results: More than half of the patients (55.8%) had type II Diabetes Mellitus. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 showed that 69.2% of the respondents had mild depressive symptoms. The challenges faced by the caregivers were: 19.2% felt an emotional rollercoaster, 32.8% had a financial burden, 25% had stress. Conclusion: In light of the identified challenges among the patients and caregivers of MDR-TB such as emotional and financial strain, stigma along with smoking and alcohol abuse, it is essential to address the above issues through multifaceted and integrated approach.
Palani et al. (Sat,) studied this question.