Accelerating tuberculosis control: addressing the structural drivers of the disease in South Africa

Abstract

Although efforts to address the burden of tuberculosis (TB) have yielded notable progress, the disease remains a major health problem in South Africa and other countries with a high TB burden. In seeking to end the global TB epidemic by 2030, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has expanded efforts to address the disease beyond the biomedical approaches by explicitly highlighting the need to address structural factors closely linked to TB. Drawing on international and national literature, we discuss the burden of TB in South Africa, highlight the impact of structural factors in driving and sustaining the disease burden, and conclude with recommendations for strengthening current policies to address these structural drivers as part of efforts to eliminate TB in the country.