title: Acceptability of community and health facility-based directly observed treatment of tuberculosis in Tanzanian urban setting.
abstract: METHODS
  An urban district in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the acceptability of community and health facility-based direct observation of treatment (DOT) of tuberculosis (TB) patients in Temeke district.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both quantitative and qualitative study methodologies were used. Eight focus group discussions were carried out with TB patients, treatment supporters, health workers and community members. Quantitative study was also carried out among TB patients and treatment supporters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 268 patients and 103 treatment supporters were enrolled in the study. The majority of the patients (75%) were satisfied with the DOT options they received. Males were more satisfied with community-based DOT (84%) than females (67%) (OR 4.96, 95% CI 1.38-17.86). The majority (81%) were willing to supervise another TB patient. The results of the qualitative study demonstrated that community-based DOT was preferred because it was found to be convenient, reduced costs, saved time of the patients and reduced workload in health services. The main challenge of community-based DOT was to ensure effective supervision and monitoring of patients and treatment supporters in the community.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from the quantitative and qualitative studies indicate that both DOT options were acceptable. The study has also identified key challenges and opportunities for effective implementation of community-based DOT interventions that are relevant, sensitive and acceptable to the population. Community-based DOT is a viable option and can complement and strengthen the existing health facility-based DOT, especially in countries like Tanzania where the health system is overwhelmed with increasing number of TB and HIV/AIDS patients.
authors.affiliation: National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme, Tanzania. jamiitb@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Eliud
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wandwalo
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Makundi
authors.forename: Torunn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasler
authors.forename: Odd
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Morkve
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D013636:Tanzania; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014505:Urban Population