title: The active search for respiratory symptomatics for the control of tuberculosis in the Potiguara Indigenous Scenario, Paraiba, Brazil.
abstract: This study sought to analyze the actions of an active search for respiratory symptomatics (RSs) in the control of tuberculosis (TB) in the Potiguara Special Indigenous Sanitary District, Paraiba, Brazil, between May and June 2007. After approval by the Research Ethics Committee, 23 professionals were grouped, including physicians, nurses, nurse technicians and indigenous health agents. The focus group technique was used as an instrument for data collection, based on the discourse analysis technique. Weaknesses of an operational nature that became apparent, related to the organization of local health service for the implementation of routines for diagnosing TB: absence of a systematic routine for searching for RSs, difficulties in organizing the material for bacteriological examination, inadequate approach to patient during sputum collection and inadequate professional training. It is deemed necessary to improve the organization of services for early detection of TB cases in the local indigenous scenario.
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário de João Pessoa, PB, Brazil. rafaelagerbasi@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Rafaela Gerbasi
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Nóbrega
authors.forename: Jordana de Almeida
authors.initials: Jde A
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: Antonio Ruffino
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Netto
authors.forename: Lenilde Duarte
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: de Sá
authors.forename: Ana Tereza Medeiros Cavalcanti
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Tereza Cristina Scatena
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Villa
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*