Masculinities Inducing Deviant Sick-Role Behaviour: A Qualitative Study of Tuberculosis Patients in the Zambian Compounds

Abstract

This study aimed at obtaining an in-depth understanding of masculinities which act as barriers to performing the direct observable therapy (DOT) on the expected sick role behaviours among men who were diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis in Zambian compounds. The article identifies masculinities that act as gendered barriers to tuberculosis patients. It explores masculine gendered actions situated in an impoverished household. Of concern is considering both the situational aspects of gender and failure to honour the expected sick role behaviours. To do this the article used the Talcott Parson’s sick role theory whereby the behaviours, rights and responsibilities of a patient deviates from societal norms because of their disease or disorder” (DeLaune et al., 2019). Methodologically, a maximum variation sampling design was used to enlist 59 respondents. In-depth interviews were conducted with men anchored on Charmaz’s modified constructivist grounded theory informing the article. The argument in this article is that six categories of masculinities influenced deviant behaviour and accounted for reasons why and how men fail to fulfil the expected tuberculosis sick role behaviour. These categories found were: not being in control of the situation, hyper masculinity, resistance to recommended practices, masculinity stereotype threat, breadwinner and gender identities. A much closer look at the explored six categories of masculinities that effectuate deviant behaviour, the article asserts that gendered interventions are possible to neutralise sick-role behaviour among tuberculosis male patients.