Tuberculosis control in South Africa: reasons for persistent failure
This study reviews the origins and spread of tuberculosis in South Africa in the international context. It shows that TB is far from being under control, despite the availability of effective technology. Five arguments offer explanations for this failure. First, control strategies fail to eradica...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of the Free State
2005-01-01
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| Series: | Acta Academica |
| Online Access: | https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/aa/article/view/1042 |
| _version_ | 1797270989684342784 |
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| author | Dingie van Rensburg Ega Janse van Rensburg-Bonthuyzen Christo Heunis Herman Meulemans |
| author_facet | Dingie van Rensburg Ega Janse van Rensburg-Bonthuyzen Christo Heunis Herman Meulemans |
| author_sort | Dingie van Rensburg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
This study reviews the origins and spread of tuberculosis in South Africa in the international context. It shows that TB is far from being under control, despite the availability of effective technology. Five arguments offer explanations for this failure. First, control strategies fail to eradicate the macro-conditions that create a breeding ground for TB. Secondly, new disease conditions — especially HIV/AIDS and MDRTB — confound efforts at control. Thirdly, the health system and its priorities are insufficiently focused and resourced to cope with TB. Fourthly, healthcare staff responsible for TB care are often weak links in the chain of control. Fifthly, TB patients fail due to ignorance, delay in seeking care, and non-adherence to treatment regimens. TB consequently remains a major public health challenge, today more than ever in its protracted history.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:43:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-90ab79306628413e8f029c2060768531 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0587-2405 2415-0479 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T02:13:02Z |
| publishDate | 2005-01-01 |
| publisher | University of the Free State |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Academica |
| spelling | doaj.art-90ab79306628413e8f029c20607685312024-03-07T11:13:33ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Academica0587-24052415-04792005-01-011Tuberculosis control in South Africa: reasons for persistent failureDingie van Rensburg0Ega Janse van Rensburg-Bonthuyzen1Christo Heunis2Herman Meulemans3University of the Free StateUniversity of the Free StateUniversity of the Free StateUniversity of Antwerp This study reviews the origins and spread of tuberculosis in South Africa in the international context. It shows that TB is far from being under control, despite the availability of effective technology. Five arguments offer explanations for this failure. First, control strategies fail to eradicate the macro-conditions that create a breeding ground for TB. Secondly, new disease conditions — especially HIV/AIDS and MDRTB — confound efforts at control. Thirdly, the health system and its priorities are insufficiently focused and resourced to cope with TB. Fourthly, healthcare staff responsible for TB care are often weak links in the chain of control. Fifthly, TB patients fail due to ignorance, delay in seeking care, and non-adherence to treatment regimens. TB consequently remains a major public health challenge, today more than ever in its protracted history. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/aa/article/view/1042 |
| spellingShingle | Dingie van Rensburg Ega Janse van Rensburg-Bonthuyzen Christo Heunis Herman Meulemans Tuberculosis control in South Africa: reasons for persistent failure Acta Academica |
| title | Tuberculosis control in South Africa: reasons for persistent failure |
| title_full | Tuberculosis control in South Africa: reasons for persistent failure |
| title_fullStr | Tuberculosis control in South Africa: reasons for persistent failure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tuberculosis control in South Africa: reasons for persistent failure |
| title_short | Tuberculosis control in South Africa: reasons for persistent failure |
| title_sort | tuberculosis control in south africa reasons for persistent failure |
| url | https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/aa/article/view/1042 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dingievanrensburg tuberculosiscontrolinsouthafricareasonsforpersistentfailure AT egajansevanrensburgbonthuyzen tuberculosiscontrolinsouthafricareasonsforpersistentfailure AT christoheunis tuberculosiscontrolinsouthafricareasonsforpersistentfailure AT hermanmeulemans tuberculosiscontrolinsouthafricareasonsforpersistentfailure |