Abstract
A persistently high burden of tuberculosis (TB) and low cure rates in South Africa call for frequent assessment of the effectiveness of the TB programme. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate treatment outcomes and associated factors among new TB patients taking standard regimen 1 TB treatment during 2010 in Pretoria, using the World Health Organization’s six treatment outcomes classification. The 85 participants (of whom 59% were female) had co-infection with HIV in 70%. A total of 52% completed treatment, but only 15% were officially cured; 13% died and only 35% had an end-of-treatment sputum test. The treatment success rate (cured and complete treatment) was 67%. Completion of TB treatment was associated with HIV status (P = 0.02) and TB diagnosis using only sputum smear test (P = 0.02). Our results suggest non-compliance with standard TB guidelines by healthcare workers. We therefore advise future interventions should target both patients and healthcare workers.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 130-134 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Tropical Doctor |
Volume | 50 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Apr 2020 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Pulmonary tuberculosis
- adult patients
- tuberculosis treatment
- tuberculosis treatment outcomes