Initial default from tuberculosis treatment: how often does it happen and what are the reasons?
A study in 11 primary health care facilities in and around Cape Town determined the proportion of bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis (TB) cases who did not start treatment (initial default) and identified reasons for it. Databases from centralised laboratories were compared with electronic TB treatment registers. Fourteen per cent (373/2758) of TB suspects were TB cases. Of the 58 (16%) initial defaulters, 14 (24%) died, while 26 (45%) could not be interviewed for address-related reasons. The 18 subjects who were interviewed indicated reasons for initial default that were (56%) or were not (44%) directly linked to services. High initial default rates require improvement in the quality of health services.
Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa. ebotha@sun.ac.za
E
E
Botha
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S
Den Boon
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S
Verver
R
R
Dunbar
K-A
KA
Lawrence
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Bosman
D A
DA
Enarson
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I
Toms
N
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Beyers
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D006801:Humans; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010045:Outpatients; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013019:South Africa; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D016312:Treatment Refusal; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents