Qualitative Assessment of Challenges in Tuberculosis Control in West Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: Health Workers' and Tuberculosis Control Program Coordinators' Perspectives.

Senedu B Gebreegziabher,Solomon A Yimer,Gunnar A Bjune

doi:10.1155/2016/2036234

Senedu B Gebreegziabher, Solomon A Yimer + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/2036234

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Abstract

Background. Weak health systems pose many barriers to effective tuberculosis (TB) control. This study aimed at exploring health worker's and TB control program coordinator's perspectives on health systems challenges facing TB control in West Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Methods. This was a qualitative descriptive study. Eight in-depth interviews with TB control program coordinators and two focus group discussions among 16 health workers were conducted. Purposive sampling was used to recruit study participants. Thematic analysis was used to identify and analyse main themes. Results. We found that intermittent interruptions of laboratory reagents and anti-TB drugs supplies, absence of trained and motivated health workers, poor TB data documentation, lack of adherence to TB treatment guideline, and lack of access to TB diagnostic tools at peripheral health institutions were challenges facing the TB control program performance in the study zone. Conclusions. Ensuring uninterrupted supply of anti-TB drugs and laboratory reagents to all health institutions is essential. Continuous refresher training of health workers on standard TB care and data handling and developing and implementing a sound retention strategy to attract and motivate health professionals to work in rural areas are necessary interventions to improve the TB control program performance in the study zone.

Highlights

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major threat to human beings, with the majority of cases occurring in the developing world
Intermittent supply of anti-TB drugs, intermittent supply of laboratory reagents, trained health workers shortage, poor TB data documentation, and inadequate diagnostic tools were the most important themes identified from the analysis
Health workers working in the TB clinics, the pharmacy professionals, and some of the TB control program coordinators mentioned that anti-TB drugs were intermittently supplied to health facilities

Summary

Introduction

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major threat to human beings, with the majority of cases occurring in the developing world. Mortality from TB has fallen by 47% since 1990 [1] Despite these gains, TB still remains a major global health threat. We found that intermittent interruptions of laboratory reagents and anti-TB drugs supplies, absence of trained and motivated health workers, poor TB data documentation, lack of adherence to TB treatment guideline, and lack of access to TB diagnostic tools at peripheral health institutions were challenges facing the TB control program performance in the study zone. Continuous refresher training of health workers on standard TB care and data handling and developing and implementing a sound retention strategy to attract and motivate health professionals to work in rural areas are necessary interventions to improve the TB control program performance in the study zone

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Discussion

Conclusion