A community based cross sectional survey was conducted from November 2003 tornMarch 2004 to assess the magnitude of stigma towards tuberculosis patients amongrnthe residents of Shashemene town, age 18 years and above. A multistage samplingrnprocedure was used to select 845 study subjects. Both quantitative and qualitativerndata collection methods were utilized.rnThe study shows that there was a misconception about cause of tuberculosis and itsrntransmission in which majority 90.2% of the respondents reported cold as the majorrncause of tuberculosis, and 397(48.6%) of the respondents reported that all TB patientsrnare infected with HIV/AIDS. Four hundred ninety one (60.1%) and 400(49%) ofrnrespondents reported that eating together and shearing toilet with TB patients,rnrespectively, could transmit TB.rnMost of the respondents reported the presence of stigma towards tuberculosisrnpatients, in which , 612(74.9%) of the respondents were not willing to disclose theirrndisease status and 364(44.6%) of the respondents also were not willing to allow theirrnchild to learn in the same School where a child who have tuberculosis is learning.rnFive hundred and three (61.6%) of the respondents were not willing a teacher whornhas got tuberculosis to teach in the school weather he/she has started the treatment.rnFurther more, 391(47.9%) of the respondents were not willing to allow a marriagernbetween their daughter/son with a person who has been cured from tuberculosis. Mostrnparticipants of the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) sessions reported that allrntuberculosis patients were considered to have HIV/AIDS.rnThus, careful design and implementation of health education and incorporation of thernissues of tuberculosis related stigma along with other programs of TB and HIV/AIDSrnand further studies to enrich the knowledge about stigma surrounding TB and TBrnpatients are recommended.rnKey Words: Stigma, Tuberculosis, Feeling, Avoidance