Resources for controlling tuberculosis in Malawi
OBJECTIVE: To document resources for controlling tuberculosis (TB) in Malawi. METHODS: We performed a countrywide study of all 43 hospitals (3 central, 22 district and 18 mission) which register and treat patients with TB. To collect data for 1998 on the TB-related workload, diagnostic facilities, p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The World Health Organization
2001-01-01
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| Series: | Bulletin of the World Health Organization |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0042-96862001000400010 |
| _version_ | 1797283873400291328 |
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| author | Harries Anthony D. Kwanjana John H. Hargreaves Nicola J. Van Gorkom Jeroen Salaniponi Felix M.L. |
| author_facet | Harries Anthony D. Kwanjana John H. Hargreaves Nicola J. Van Gorkom Jeroen Salaniponi Felix M.L. |
| author_sort | Harries Anthony D. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | OBJECTIVE: To document resources for controlling tuberculosis (TB) in Malawi. METHODS: We performed a countrywide study of all 43 hospitals (3 central, 22 district and 18 mission) which register and treat patients with TB. To collect data for 1998 on the TB-related workload, diagnostic facilities, programme staff and treatment facilities, we used laboratory, radiographic and TB registers, conducted interviews and visited hospital facilities. FINDINGS: The data show that in 1998, 88 257 TB suspects/patients contributed approximately 230 000 sputum specimens for smear microscopy, 55 667 chest X-rays were performed and 23 285 patients were registered for TB treatment. There were 86 trained laboratory personnel, 44 radiographers and 83 TB programme staff. Of these, about 40% had periods of illness during 1998. Approximately 20% of the microscopes and X-ray machines were broken. Some 16% of the hospital beds were designated for TB patients in special wards, but even so, the occupancy of beds in TB wards exceeded 100%. Although stocks of anti-TB drugs were good, there was a shortage of full-time TB ward nurses and 50% of district hospitals conducted no TB ward rounds. In general, there was a shortage of facilities for managing associated HIV-related disease; central hospitals, in particular, were underresourced. CONCLUSION: Malawi needs better planning to utilize its manpower and should consider cross-training hospital personnel. The equipment needs regular maintenance, and more attention should be paid to HIV-related illness. The policies of decentralizing resources to the periphery and increasing diagnostic and case-holding resources for central hospitals should be continued. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T17:38:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-914eec15eb9648da9b7dcd69d86e891f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0042-9686 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T17:38:07Z |
| publishDate | 2001-01-01 |
| publisher | The World Health Organization |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bulletin of the World Health Organization |
| spelling | doaj.art-914eec15eb9648da9b7dcd69d86e891f2024-03-02T16:29:38ZengThe World Health OrganizationBulletin of the World Health Organization0042-96862001-01-01794329336Resources for controlling tuberculosis in MalawiHarries Anthony D.Kwanjana John H.Hargreaves Nicola J.Van Gorkom JeroenSalaniponi Felix M.L.OBJECTIVE: To document resources for controlling tuberculosis (TB) in Malawi. METHODS: We performed a countrywide study of all 43 hospitals (3 central, 22 district and 18 mission) which register and treat patients with TB. To collect data for 1998 on the TB-related workload, diagnostic facilities, programme staff and treatment facilities, we used laboratory, radiographic and TB registers, conducted interviews and visited hospital facilities. FINDINGS: The data show that in 1998, 88 257 TB suspects/patients contributed approximately 230 000 sputum specimens for smear microscopy, 55 667 chest X-rays were performed and 23 285 patients were registered for TB treatment. There were 86 trained laboratory personnel, 44 radiographers and 83 TB programme staff. Of these, about 40% had periods of illness during 1998. Approximately 20% of the microscopes and X-ray machines were broken. Some 16% of the hospital beds were designated for TB patients in special wards, but even so, the occupancy of beds in TB wards exceeded 100%. Although stocks of anti-TB drugs were good, there was a shortage of full-time TB ward nurses and 50% of district hospitals conducted no TB ward rounds. In general, there was a shortage of facilities for managing associated HIV-related disease; central hospitals, in particular, were underresourced. CONCLUSION: Malawi needs better planning to utilize its manpower and should consider cross-training hospital personnel. The equipment needs regular maintenance, and more attention should be paid to HIV-related illness. The policies of decentralizing resources to the periphery and increasing diagnostic and case-holding resources for central hospitals should be continued.http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0042-96862001000400010Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/prevention and controlHealth resources/organization and administrationHealth care surveysMalawi |
| spellingShingle | Harries Anthony D. Kwanjana John H. Hargreaves Nicola J. Van Gorkom Jeroen Salaniponi Felix M.L. Resources for controlling tuberculosis in Malawi Bulletin of the World Health Organization Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/prevention and control Health resources/organization and administration Health care surveys Malawi |
| title | Resources for controlling tuberculosis in Malawi |
| title_full | Resources for controlling tuberculosis in Malawi |
| title_fullStr | Resources for controlling tuberculosis in Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Resources for controlling tuberculosis in Malawi |
| title_short | Resources for controlling tuberculosis in Malawi |
| title_sort | resources for controlling tuberculosis in malawi |
| topic | Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/prevention and control Health resources/organization and administration Health care surveys Malawi |
| url | http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0042-96862001000400010 |
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