Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grants - Institute/Initiative Community Support

Tuberculosis (TB) is a preventable, curable infectious disease which remains a significant health challenge in Canada. Incidence rates are increasing and well-off track to meet goals for elimination by 2035. With most people affected by TB in Canada being born outside the country (im/migrants), (81% of diagnosis in 2024), culturally safe, community powering solutions will be critical to reversing this trend. Stigma, fear and TB misinformation are significant barriers undermining prevention, treatment and patient experience. Patient educational materials can help people understand TB, access care, and complete treatment; however, current materials are often focused on increasing fear and commanding compliance as opposed to building trust and supporting informed decision making. The goal of this project is to establish a community-based, action-oriented network of TB survivors, community leaders and practitioners focused on future development of culturally safe, empowering TB literacy materials for im/migrant groups in Canada. Our first objective is to conduct a national environmental scan and analysis of existing TB literacy materials and organizations active in this space. Our second objective is to host two virtual learning circles aimed at gathering im/migrant community perspectives on TB literacy needs, preferences, and priorities. The first circle will consist of im/migrant TB survivors and community leaders. The second will bring together survivors, im/migrant community leaders, with TB practitioners to review findings and develop shared principles for future resource development. The project will establish partnerships and a national network for future co-design of TB literacy resources. By placing community voices at the centre of the process, this work aims to improve access to understandable, trustworthy, and culturally relevant TB information, helping reduce inequities and support TB elimination efforts across Canada.