Lack of commitment, skill, or persistence in meeting the challenge will cost lives across Asia. As well, lack of economy and education opportunities may not only lead women to resort to entering into sexual relationships for economic reasons but may also reduce both their willingness and their capacity to negotiate protection. Although advocating partner condom use remains the primary prevention message, increasing effort is being directed at the development and evaluation of woman-controlled prevention methods. Long-term solutions to women's vulnerability lie in the empowerment of women to achieve economic autonomy and full participation in decisions which affect their lives. Turbeculosis is the leading infectious cause of death in women worldwide.
Women are at increased risk of progression to disease during their reproductive years.
However, in most low-income countries, twice as many men are notified with tuberculosis as women. Biological mechanisms may account for most of this difference but socioeconomic and cultural factors leading to barriers in accessing health care may cause under-notification in women. Tuberculosis is a major cause of preventable suffering and death in women. WHO's recommended tuberculosis control strategy, DOTS, represents a cost-effective response to the problem of tuberculosis in women. While the study investigated a wide range of gender differences in the impact of leprosy, this article focuses on only two - marriage and family reactions.