Lunic Base Khoza
University of Venda, South Africa
Title: Improving the tuberculosis control using the directly observed treatment program in Limpopo province, South Africa
Biography
Biography: Lunic Base Khoza
Abstract
The Directly Observed Treatment program has been proven to be eff ective in many countries worldwide which is why the World Health Organization is promoting its implementation globally. However, among the nine Tuberculosis high burden countries in Africa, of which South Africa is in position two, seven of these countries have a 100% of the population covered by the strategy but with low cure rates. Th e program is being implemented in Limpopo province, South Africa but there are several challenges that act as barriers to the effi ciency of its implementation. Th e purpose of this study was to critically analyze the eff ectiveness of the existing tuberculosis; Directly Observed Treatment program in Limpopo province, South Africa. Qualitative and descriptive designs were employed. Focus group discussions were conducted with the various groups of Health Care Workers using a semi-structured interview guide. Individual interviews were conducted with the patients. Th e fi ndings indicate that there are gaps such as minimal supervision and monitoring, minimal community support and diff erent health beliefs that were found to be contributing to high defaulter rates, late presentation, low cure rates and development of Multiple Drug Resistant tuberculosis and Extremely Drug Resistant tuberculosis. Based on the fi ndings of the study an adapted program has been developed in order to add value to the existing program for better outcomes.
