Addressing constraints to informal providers’ involvement in tuberculosis control: a qualitative study of patent medicine dealers and tuberculosis programme managers
Abstract Background A major constraint to tuberculosis control is low case finding with under-reporting to national authorities. Evidence shows that Patent Medicine Dealers are first port of call for most people with symptoms of tuberculosis, yet there is poor referral of such clients to tuberculosi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2021-11-01
|
| Series: | Global Health Research and Policy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-021-00227-x |
| _version_ | 1818926771174637568 |
|---|---|
| author | Cosmas Kenan Onah Benedict Ndubueze Azuogu Edmund Ndudi Ossai Adaoha Pearl Agu Victoria Chioma Azuogu Isaac Alobu Emeka Onwe Ogah |
| author_facet | Cosmas Kenan Onah Benedict Ndubueze Azuogu Edmund Ndudi Ossai Adaoha Pearl Agu Victoria Chioma Azuogu Isaac Alobu Emeka Onwe Ogah |
| author_sort | Cosmas Kenan Onah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A major constraint to tuberculosis control is low case finding with under-reporting to national authorities. Evidence shows that Patent Medicine Dealers are first port of call for most people with symptoms of tuberculosis, yet there is poor referral of such clients to tuberculosis treatment facilities for further evaluation. This study investigated constraints to involvement of Patent Medicine Dealers in tuberculosis control. Methods This was a cross-sectional qualitative study among Patent Medicine Dealers and Tuberculosis Control Programme Managers in Ebonyi State Nigeria. Sixty-four Patent Medicine Dealers and five Tuberculosis Control Programme Managers were interviewed using Focus Group Discussion and In-Depth Interview respectively. Data was collected with electronic audio-recording device and analyzed using thematic approach. Results There are some knowledge gaps about tuberculosis signs, symptoms, free-treatment policy and mode of operation of care service among Patent Medicine Dealers. Patent Medicine Dealers and Tuberculosis Control Programme Managers are willing to collaborate in tuberculosis control effort but constant demand for incentives by Patent Medicine Dealers and inability of National Tuberculosis Control Programme to keep up with such demands are obvious constraints. Conclusions Knowledge gaps in tuberculosis, its control, constant demand for incentives by Patent Medicine Dealers and inability of National Tuberculosis Control Programme to satisfy such demands are constraints to involvement of Patent Medicine Dealers in tuberculosis control. More robust engagement of Patent Medicine Dealers in tuberculosis control with clear job description through tuberculosis education and provision of incentives to support them are recommended policy approaches to improve linkage of clients to tuberculosis treatment facilities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:02:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d384f6a484a14695b4621f0edde0eae7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2397-0642 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:02:25Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Research and Policy |
| spelling | doaj.art-d384f6a484a14695b4621f0edde0eae72022-12-21T19:55:42ZengBMCGlobal Health Research and Policy2397-06422021-11-016111210.1186/s41256-021-00227-xAddressing constraints to informal providers’ involvement in tuberculosis control: a qualitative study of patent medicine dealers and tuberculosis programme managersCosmas Kenan Onah0Benedict Ndubueze Azuogu1Edmund Ndudi Ossai2Adaoha Pearl Agu3Victoria Chioma Azuogu4Isaac Alobu5Emeka Onwe Ogah6Department of Community Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AEFUTHA)Department of Community Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AEFUTHA)Department of Community Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AEFUTHA)Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State UniversityDepartment of Nursing Services, AE-FUTHANational Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Ebonyi State Ministry of HealthDepartment of Paediatrics, AE-FUTHAAbstract Background A major constraint to tuberculosis control is low case finding with under-reporting to national authorities. Evidence shows that Patent Medicine Dealers are first port of call for most people with symptoms of tuberculosis, yet there is poor referral of such clients to tuberculosis treatment facilities for further evaluation. This study investigated constraints to involvement of Patent Medicine Dealers in tuberculosis control. Methods This was a cross-sectional qualitative study among Patent Medicine Dealers and Tuberculosis Control Programme Managers in Ebonyi State Nigeria. Sixty-four Patent Medicine Dealers and five Tuberculosis Control Programme Managers were interviewed using Focus Group Discussion and In-Depth Interview respectively. Data was collected with electronic audio-recording device and analyzed using thematic approach. Results There are some knowledge gaps about tuberculosis signs, symptoms, free-treatment policy and mode of operation of care service among Patent Medicine Dealers. Patent Medicine Dealers and Tuberculosis Control Programme Managers are willing to collaborate in tuberculosis control effort but constant demand for incentives by Patent Medicine Dealers and inability of National Tuberculosis Control Programme to keep up with such demands are obvious constraints. Conclusions Knowledge gaps in tuberculosis, its control, constant demand for incentives by Patent Medicine Dealers and inability of National Tuberculosis Control Programme to satisfy such demands are constraints to involvement of Patent Medicine Dealers in tuberculosis control. More robust engagement of Patent Medicine Dealers in tuberculosis control with clear job description through tuberculosis education and provision of incentives to support them are recommended policy approaches to improve linkage of clients to tuberculosis treatment facilities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-021-00227-xTuberculosis controlPatent medicine dealersChronic coughPresumptive tuberculosis referralDOTSNigeria |
| spellingShingle | Cosmas Kenan Onah Benedict Ndubueze Azuogu Edmund Ndudi Ossai Adaoha Pearl Agu Victoria Chioma Azuogu Isaac Alobu Emeka Onwe Ogah Addressing constraints to informal providers’ involvement in tuberculosis control: a qualitative study of patent medicine dealers and tuberculosis programme managers Global Health Research and Policy Tuberculosis control Patent medicine dealers Chronic cough Presumptive tuberculosis referral DOTS Nigeria |
| title | Addressing constraints to informal providers’ involvement in tuberculosis control: a qualitative study of patent medicine dealers and tuberculosis programme managers |
| title_full | Addressing constraints to informal providers’ involvement in tuberculosis control: a qualitative study of patent medicine dealers and tuberculosis programme managers |
| title_fullStr | Addressing constraints to informal providers’ involvement in tuberculosis control: a qualitative study of patent medicine dealers and tuberculosis programme managers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Addressing constraints to informal providers’ involvement in tuberculosis control: a qualitative study of patent medicine dealers and tuberculosis programme managers |
| title_short | Addressing constraints to informal providers’ involvement in tuberculosis control: a qualitative study of patent medicine dealers and tuberculosis programme managers |
| title_sort | addressing constraints to informal providers involvement in tuberculosis control a qualitative study of patent medicine dealers and tuberculosis programme managers |
| topic | Tuberculosis control Patent medicine dealers Chronic cough Presumptive tuberculosis referral DOTS Nigeria |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-021-00227-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cosmaskenanonah addressingconstraintstoinformalprovidersinvolvementintuberculosiscontrolaqualitativestudyofpatentmedicinedealersandtuberculosisprogrammemanagers AT benedictndubuezeazuogu addressingconstraintstoinformalprovidersinvolvementintuberculosiscontrolaqualitativestudyofpatentmedicinedealersandtuberculosisprogrammemanagers AT edmundndudiossai addressingconstraintstoinformalprovidersinvolvementintuberculosiscontrolaqualitativestudyofpatentmedicinedealersandtuberculosisprogrammemanagers AT adaohapearlagu addressingconstraintstoinformalprovidersinvolvementintuberculosiscontrolaqualitativestudyofpatentmedicinedealersandtuberculosisprogrammemanagers AT victoriachiomaazuogu addressingconstraintstoinformalprovidersinvolvementintuberculosiscontrolaqualitativestudyofpatentmedicinedealersandtuberculosisprogrammemanagers AT isaacalobu addressingconstraintstoinformalprovidersinvolvementintuberculosiscontrolaqualitativestudyofpatentmedicinedealersandtuberculosisprogrammemanagers AT emekaonweogah addressingconstraintstoinformalprovidersinvolvementintuberculosiscontrolaqualitativestudyofpatentmedicinedealersandtuberculosisprogrammemanagers |