- Title
- Treatment adherence among tuberculosis patients in Nelson Mandela District, Eastern Cape Province
- Creator
- Sohuma, Ntombifikile
- Subject
- Patient compliance
- Subject
- Tuberculosis -- Patients
- Subject
- Tuberculosis -- Mortality
- Date Issued
- 2019-09
- Date
- 2019-09
- Type
- Master's theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22957
- Identifier
- vital:53254
- Description
- Tuberculosis (TB) morbidity and mortality rates remain high globally and are even higher in Africa. The key factor that continues to drive the burden of disease is poor compliance / adherence to treatment regimens. This study aimed to identify determinants that continue to drive poor treatment adherence among low-income communities in South Africa. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted, drawing on TB patients who were defaulting on treatment. An assessment tool with several socio-economic and disease-related determinants was administered to participants. Data was entered into MS Excel and analysed in SPSS version 24. Results Regarding health services factors generally, all participants agreed that health service delivery was conducted in a conducive environment and that facilities were reasonably close to their places of residence. Participants demonstrated that health workers do not provide adequate information regarding medications that patients receive. Of patients cited, 11percent indicated that they stopped medications owing to health services. When questioned, participants reported that health workers shouted at them for coming late (e.g. after lunch) and that waiting times were very long. Approximately 85percent of the study participants were more likely to adhere poorly to TB medication owing to various factors such as comorbidities and personal perceptions of wellbeing / health status. Comorbidities are high among patients, with 58percent taking other medication while on TB treatment. Self-prognosis on wellbeing is significantly high, and 44percent reported a tendency to stop medication when they were seemingly in recovery. The unemployment rate among respondents was 78percent, with limited education: 69percent had below matric. Of the respondents, 40percent showed an unsatisfactory perception of their social and economic life, 55percent were somewhat satisfied and only 5percent were very satisfied. These indicators constitute a highly vulnerable community that depends heavily on subsidised healthcare from the state. Adherence to TB treatment is mainly influenced by poverty, the health service provider–patient relationship and perceived stigma. Limited family support was noted towards the treatment of patients.
- Description
- Thesis (MPH) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2019
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (77 leaves)
- Format
- Publisher
- University of Fort Hare
- Publisher
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Language
- English
- Rights
- University of Fort Hare
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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UFH Department of Public Health
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Sohuma _200909865_Mini Dissertation.pdf | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |