Persistence of gaps in implementation of revised national tuberculosis control program in an area of West Bengal.
A study was conducted to evaluate the RNTCP in Habra TB, unit North 24 Parganas district, in February 2004. We collected both primary and secondary data, cross-checked registers and records. The TB unit was catering 23% more population; 54% of patients belonged to backward section. All patients received free drugs and free microscopy services; 90% received DOT during intensive phase and 67% during continuation phase; DOT time was inconvenient to 20% patients and 30% in attending DOT; 14% patients did not give three sputum samples at diagnosis; 28.3% centers lacked expected facilities; inconsistency in 27.8% drug boxes; records lacking in address verification (74.4%) and defaulter retrieval activity (47.2%). Delay in diagnosis and initiation of treatment was also prevailed.
Sen
T K
TK
Department of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of West Bengal. Swasthya Bhavan, Kolkata. tapassen56@rediffmail.com
Das
D K
DK
Saha
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents