Tuberculosis in Developing Countries

Problem: In some communities, some social norms include covering coughs and hiding diseases. Coughing is a symptom of TB, and if not caught early, can kill the host of the disease.

'Nudge' solution: We didn't come up with much of a nudge, but we were thinking of setting up an incognito TB awareness stand that would pass out tissues and kleenex and respiratory masks for individuals suffering from simple coughs or 'colds'. These particular products would hint for them to go seek treatment without directly, specifically mentioning TB, but having a list of illnesses with related symptoms that go along with the product. People in the village/city would be educated, trained and would work at the incognito TB stand (powered by a non profit or for profit organization, or government), and if people need treatment they would go back to the stand and in the back there would be a TB testing area cut off from view where people can get tested. Eventually lines may form to get into the testing area, and people may become more open when talking about this infectious disease, since awareness is key to catching the disease in time before it becomes more likely to kill.

Another idea was to incorporate other information on the 'cover your cough' poster to hint at people to go to the doctors, and that it's okay to display your sickness if you are actually sick, but if you are sick for a certain period of time, to seek out treatment (no matter if it is TB or something else).