Evaluation of Directly Observed Treatment providers in the revised national tuberculosis control programme

Nirupa, C and Sudha, G and Santha, T and Ponnuraja, C and Fathima, R and Chandrasekaran, V and Jaggarajamma, K and Thomas, A and Gopi, P G and Narayanan, P R (2005) Evaluation of Directly Observed Treatment providers in the revised national tuberculosis control programme. Indian Journal of Tuberculosis, 52 (2). pp. 73-77. ISSN 0019-5705

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Abstract

Background: Non-governmental personnel such as Anganwadi workers and community volunteers have been used as directly observed treatment (DOT) providers in the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), but their effectiveness has not been documented. Aim: To assess the treatment outcome and problems encountered by patients managed by different DOT providers in the RNTCP. Material and Methods: Patients diagnosed with tuberculosis at 17 Primary Health Institutions (PHIs) in Tiruvallur District during a 3-year period received DOT from one of the four types of trained DOT providers (PHI staff, governmental outreach workers, Anganwadi workers, community volunteers), and their treatment outcomes were compared. Of the 1131 new smear-positive patients treated between May 1999 through June 2002, 199 (18%) received DOT from PHI staff, 238(21%) from outreach workers, 496 (44%) from Anganwadi workers, and 170 (15%) from community volunteers. Twenty-eight patients (2%) collected drugs for self-administration. Results: Treatment success rates among patients treated by different DOT providers, Anganwadi workers (80%), governmental outreach workers (81%), community volunteers (76%) and PHI staff (76%), were statistically similar. Patients who received drugs for self-administration were significantly more likely to fail to treatment or die than patients who were treated by a DOT provider (5/28 versus 84/1103; odds ratio=4.1; 95% confidence interval=1.2-12.6; p=0.02). Conclusion: In addition to governmental staff, Anganwadi workers and community volunteers can be effectively utilized as DOT providers.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Tuberculosis, Directly observed treatment providers, Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme
Subjects: Tuberculosis > Socio Behavioral
Divisions: Social and Behavioural Research
Depositing User: Dr. Rathinasabapati R
Date Deposited: 27 Nov 2013 11:22
Last Modified: 09 Mar 2016 07:10
URI: http://eprints.nirt.res.in/id/eprint/705

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