Factors Responsible For The Ineffective Treatment Of Tuberculosis In Sheema District

ABSTRACT

Background: Tuberculosis is a chronic communicable disease caused by acid fast bacilli

Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The impact of tuberculosis in the developing world has been

magnified in past 20 years by the emergence of HIV pandemic. The treatment of tuberculosis is

based on anti – tuberculosis drug combination therapy because the mycobacterium can easily

become resistant to one drug.

Objective: To determine factors responsible for the ineffective treatment of tuberculosis in

Sheema district

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the residents of Sheema District. .

Both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were used. Questionnaires were

administered to 100 participants. It was then analyzed using Microsoft Excel.

Results: The research established that majority were learned(41% had secondary education,

followed by 39% with primary education) and were knowledgeable about TB as majority defined

it as a chronic lung disease(34%).And majority(82%) would identify a TB patient as having a

chronic cough. High prevalence rate (22 %) of Tuberculosis in the general population was noted.

However, the rate was extremely high (65%) in HIV/AIDS patients. Long distances from the

health center, lack of drugs and refraining from taking the drugs still remain major factors

influencing treatment of Tuberculosis patients. Sensitization was mostly through media and

health workers (81% and 16% respectively).The strategy and duration of treatment was not quite

clear, only 2% could define CB-DOTS correctly though 41% knew it as treatment for TB, only

24% knew the correct treatment duration. Majority of respondents (52%) knew that T.B co-exists

with HIV/AIDS. Majority preferred taking TB patients to hospital (49%) and that sputum should

be deposited in an enclosed container (87%).Tuberculosis was viewed in the community as a

dangerous disease (35%) as well as an infectious disease (33%), curable (11%), though few (2%)

did not know anything about TB.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, service related factors like long distances from

the health center and lack of drugs also remain still the main factors that are leading to ineffective treatment of Tuberculosis in Sheema District