Background: Tuberculosis is a public health problem. In the present scenario, the disease burden lies in the low-income countries where a majority of the total population of the world lives. However, the disease is also reported from the developed world. In the present paper, authors aimed at analyzing the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) strategy under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program at one of the largest district of the national capital Delhi, by determining the strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats to the program. Also, the paper gives insights into the various issues associated with it and suggests probable solutions for these issues. Methodology: A qualitative analytical study using structured questionnaires designed specifically for service recipients and service providers was done at the Chest Clinic, Moti Nagar, New Delhi, and its DOT centers and DMC’s. The data collection involved one to one interviews of study subjects and analysis of quarterly reports available at the CCMN and on the internet. The study was conducted from 19th January 2016 to 1 April 2016. Results: A total of 65 subjects were randomly selected and interviewed. Service providers-35, service recipients- 30 (patients taking Category–I treatment under the DOTS of the RNTCP). Conclusions: The study highlights various issues at a large center related directly or indirectly into DOTS and suggest possible solutions for the same. The data could be used to study in detail various other districts of India and other high TB burden countries. Keywords: Analysis, DOTS, RNTCP, TB.
Read full abstract