Ecology of Tuberculosis in India (Global Perspectives on Health Geography)

The book addresses the issue of disease diffusion across the geographical span of India during the colonial period. Based on archival records, it analyses colonial economic policies and their implications for the spread of the disease across different regions of India as well as the role of the military in disease spread. It adds a new dimension to the understanding of the spread of TB in colonial India. The book also discusses the concept of the meaning of illness for different cohorts of TB patients. Based on narratives, it brings to readers the social and cultural dimensions that are responsible for the prevalence of the disease, despite having vaccination and medication available for more than half a century. The book will be beneficial to health and medical geographers and will bring new insights in historical geography as well as the history of medicine, by incorporating policy changes and their implication in disease spread.Sociologists and public health professionals will find narratives of patients interesting and useful for furthering their understanding. Acknowledgements Prologue References Contents Chapter 1: The Burden of Tuberculosis Tuberculosis as Phitsis/Consumption/Yakshma Bacillus as a Cause of Tuberculosis Climate and Tuberculosis Bovine as a Cause of Tuberculosis Urbanization and Industrialization as Cause of Tuberculosis Sanatorium as a Cause of Tuberculosis Correlates of Tuberculosis in the Twenty-First Century Tuberculosis as a Disease of Poverty Tuberculosis as Nemesis! References Chapter 2: Spatiality of Tuberculosis Colonization and Tuberculosis Geographical Spread of Tuberculosis Tuberculosis in Towns and Remote Villages Tuberculosis in Specific Geographies: Cantonments and Prisons Conclusions References Chapter 3: Changing Geographies of Tuberculosis Morbidity and Mortality Sources of Reporting Deaths Registered and Reported Deaths Household Data from NFHS Ecological Zoning and Distribution of Tuberculosis Tuberculosis Across States Tuberculosis Across Ecologies Changing Ecologies of Tuberculosis Conclusions References Chapter 4: Containing Tuberculosis During Colonial Period Thoughts, Theories and Tuberculosis Transmission of Disease and Knowledge – Indian Medical Traditions Professional Understanding of Tuberculosis Isolation as Treatment Sanatoria as a Site of Treatment Preventive Public Health Measures The Magic Bullet Conclusions References Chapter 5: Combating Tuberculosis in Independent India National Tuberculosis Control Programme Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme: DOTS Diagnostic Efforts Medication BCG Vaccination Preventive Efforts Institutions and Associations Tuberculosis Research Centre, Chennai National Tuberculosis Institute Tuberculosis Association of India (TAI) and International Collaborations Science or Sociology – Hope and Despair Conclusions References Chapter 6: Patients, Professionals and Narratives Healing the Sufferer Reaching Out for Help Treatment-Seeking Behaviour Patient’s Profile Disease History Coping with the Symptoms Coping with the Disease Coping with Treatment Meaning of Illness Facing the Silent Gaze Family and Family Support Politics, Ecologies and Narratives Conclusions References Chapter 7: Tuberculosis: A Medical Mirage Medication and Its (Limited) Success! Resurgence of Tuberculosis Challenges Ahead Inequality and Nutrition Gender and Stigmatization Tuberculosis as Medical Mirage Ecology, Society and Politics Looking Ahead of the Mirage! References Index Addresses the issue of disease diffusion across the geographical span of India during the colonial period. Based on archival records, it analyses colonial economic policies and their implications for the spread of the disease across different regions of India as well as the role of the military in disease spread. It adds a new dimension to the understanding of the spread of TB in colonial India. The book also discusses the concept of the meaning of illness for different cohorts of TB patients. Based on narratives, it brings to readers the social and cultural dimensions that are responsible for the prevalence of the disease, despite having vaccination and medication available for more than half a century. The book will be beneficial to health and medical geographers and will bring new insights in historical geography as well as the history of medicine, by incorporating policy changes and their implication in disease spread. Sociologists and public health professionals will find narratives of patients interesting and useful for furthering their understanding