Exploring Clinicians' Experiences of Accessing Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Drug Susceptibility Testing Services from Health Centers in Blantyre

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis poses a great challenge to TB control in Malawi as well as worldwide. Most cases of TB are concentrated in cities in Malawi. OBJECTIVE. To explore clinicians’ experiences of accessing drug-resistant tuberculosis susceptibility testing services from health centers in Blantyre. METHODS. The study was a qualitative study using in-depth interviews of key informants. TB clinicians were interviewed using an interview guide questionnaire. This study was conducted at Zingwangwa, Gateway, and Ndirande health centers. Tuberculosis clinical officers at the health centers. Data collection took a period of six weeks. FINDINGS. The survey included a total of 11 participants from 5 different health centers who participated in our in-depth interviews, with a median age of 32 (IQR 22). Out of 11 participants, 3 (27.3%) were from Ndirande, 3 (27.3%) were from Zingwangwa, 3 (27.3%) were from Bangwe, 1 (9.1%) was from Limbe, and 1 (9.1%) was from Gateway. We interviewed 6 (54.5%) HSAs, 3 (27.3%) were clinical officers, and 2 (18.2%) were medical assistants. INTERPRETATION. Most clinicians experience delays in receiving sample results from the National Central Laboratory at CHSU. There are also frequent stockouts of consumables and congestion during the treatment of patients. CONCLUSION. The study revealed that clinicians experience delays in receiving DST results from CHSU. Transportation of samples has been the major challenge in most health centers in Blantyre.