title: Health-service performance of TB treatment for indigenous and non-indigenous populations in Brazil: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health-service evaluation studies are fundamental for proposing interventions and ensuring improvements in healthcare quality. The present study assesses the performance of health services for indigenous and non-indigenous populations with regard to tuberculosis (TB) control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews with TB patients who underwent treatment between 2009 and 2011 were conducted using the Primary Care Assessment Tool adapted for TB care in Brazil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary healthcare (PHC) was the first treatment for most patients at symptom onset, and the diagnoses were typically performed by specialized services. Many patients experienced delayed TB diagnoses that required more than three medical appointments (51% and 47% for indigenous and non-indigenous populations, respectively). Indigenous people received social support, such as basic-needs grocery packages (2.19 ± 1.63 vs. 1.13 ± 0.49 for non-indigenous people, p < 0.01) and home visits from health professionals, with an emphasis on the performance of directly observed treatment strategies (DOT; 4.57 ± 0.89 vs. 1.68 ± 1.04 for non-indigenous people, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regardless of the differences between indigenous and non-indigenous populations, the time needed to receive a TB diagnosis was unsatisfactory for both groups. Furthermore, DOT must be performed with better coverage among non-indigenous patients.
authors.forename: Everton Ferreira
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.forename: Aline Mara da Silva
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Giovana de Castro
authors.initials: Gde C
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Marcella Paranhos
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Natália Daiane Garoni
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Rodovia Dourados - Itaúm, Km 12, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul 79804-970, Brazil. juliocroda@ufgd.edu.br.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Croda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044382:Population Groups; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012923:Social Class; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult