scholarly journals The Perspectives of Patients and Health Professionals Regarding the Tuberculosis Control Programme in Recife, Brazil: A Contribution to Evaluation

Pharmacy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Santos Bezerra ◽  
Mara Pereira Guerreiro ◽  
Nathany França Pessoa ◽  
Maria Gabriela Pereira da Silva ◽  
Mirela Galvão de Barros ◽  
...  

The study objective is to describe patients and professionals’ perspectives on the Tuberculosis Control Program (PCT) in Recife, Brazil, contributing to the program evaluation. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three purposively selected sites, representing the three levels of care in the public health system. All eligible PCT patients in sites A, B and C were invited to participate (n = 123). Physicians, nurses, pharmacists and community health agents providing care to PCT patients in these sites, plus their managers, were purposively selected. Data were collected by means of interviews with 44 patients and a questionnaire to 24 professionals. Instruments encompassed previously published items to capture stakeholders’ perspectives (16 and 12 closed-questions, respectively), grouped into categories. The overall evaluation by patients was unsatisfactory (median score 35%; third quartile below 50%; interquartile range 21.9%). Analysis of scores by categories showed that opinions about organizational accessibility were significantly worse than about economic and geographical accessibility, taken together. Overall the median score attributed by professionals was 52% (third quartile below 65%). Professionals had significantly worse opinions about diagnosis, clinical and laboratory assistance. Patients and professionals’ perspectives highlight potential opportunities for improvement. Our findings can be used by managers as a starting point for shared decision-making, potentially contributing to a better performance of the PCT in Recife and, consequently, reducing the risk posed by tuberculosis.

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Kassaye Tekie Desta ◽  
T. E. Masango ◽  
Zerish Zethu Nkosi

Background. Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem in Liberia. Little is known about the TB laboratory performance of Liberia and the challenges after the 14 years of civil war which ended in 2003. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the TB laboratory performance of Liberia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2014 to 2015. The study was conducted using quantitative data of TB case findings, sputum microscopy proficiency testing, and on-site assessment of sputum microscopy laboratories in Liberia. 80 laboratories participated in the proficiency testing. Besides, four years’ (2012–2015) TB case finding data obtained from the National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Programme (NLTCP) were used to complement the study. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results. From the 80 TB sputum microscopy testing laboratories participating in proficiency testing, only 20 (25%) scored acceptable performance. 46 (58%) TB microscopy laboratories reported quantification errors for the proficiency panel slide 6 which was 3+. The national TB smear-positive cases notified were 4342 in 2012 but decreased to 3820 and 2448 in 2013 and 2014, respectively. The TB smear case detection rate showed an increase from 68% in 2010 to 78% in 2011 and a decrease to 60%, 57%, and 42% in 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively. Conclusion. Between 2010 and 2013, the NLTCP succeeded in increasing the number of TB sputum microscopy laboratories. At most of the TB microscopy sites, the TB laboratory quality system was not implemented. The NLTCP of Liberia should develop strategies to overcome its challenges in TB laboratory testing.


Author(s):  
Anamika Ajith ◽  
Dr. Rekha Nayaka M.R

India has been engaged in Tuberculosis control activities for more than 50 years as India is the highest TB burdened country in the world. One such initiative is Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) which has been rechristened as National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP). The change in name is in line with the larger goal of eliminating the disease by 2025. Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study is to assess the knowledge and awareness of interns regarding the management of tuberculosis as per recent RNTCP guidelines. Materials & Methods: A structured questionnaire was provided to 111 interns to be filled in a stipulated time. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistical parameters and expressed in percentage. Result: Out of a total of 111 interns, 48 (43.24%) were males and 63 (56.75%) were females. Good knowledge was seen among the interns regarding the cardinal symptoms of TB as well as definition of MDR-TB. 92.79% of the participants responded rightly about two sputum samples being taken for diagnosis of TB. Only 76.57% of interns knew the principle of treatment of TB as daily administration of fixed-dose combination of first-line anti-tubercular drugs as per appropriate weight bands and 61.27% of interns were unfamiliar of chemoprophylaxis of tuberculosis according to the recent RNTCP guidelines. Only 71.17% of the participants were updated about the follow-up procedure according to new guidelines. But only 36.93% of participants could answer Cotrimoxazole as the effective drug used in HIV-TB co-infection apart from routine TB drugs to reduce mortality. Conclusion: This survey is providing valuable information that there is deficiency of knowledge among the interns regarding management of tuberculosis according to recent RNTCP guidelines which can lead to treatment failure and thereby causing a hindrance to elimination of TB from our country by 2025


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e20985302
Author(s):  
Elicarlos Marques Nunes ◽  
Eitan Naaman Berezin

The study proposed to analyze the amenities and difficulties faced by nurses’ professionals in the fight against tuberculosis within the field of primary health care. This was a cross-sectional study with a qualitative approach. The sample consisted of 36 participants, all of whom were nurses. The statistical program IRaMuTeQ was applied and we also applied Laurence Bardin and Minayo content analysis to discuss both aprioristic and non-aprioristic categories. In the study it was clear that the difficulties are diversified, such as: personal matters from the professionals, physical and organizational structure, awareness of patients and family about the therapeutic process and the administration, the latter being the one most pointed out as difficult; regarding the amenities, the multi-professional work and protocols defined by the National Tuberculosis Control Program were pointed out. The study proves that the administrative question is the key to the function of the entire process of fighting tuberculosis, serving as a reference for improvements and adjustments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kay Thwe Han ◽  
Zay Yar Han ◽  
Kyin Hla Aye ◽  
Khin Thet Wai ◽  
Aung Thi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd) plays a central role in readiness assessment for malaria elimination in Myanmar by 2030 that includes primaquine (PQ) use. The risk of hemolysis in G6PDd individuals hampers the widespread use of primaquine safely in malaria-infected patients. In the pre-elimination era, it is important to screen initially for asymptomatic malaria in combination with G6PD deficiency by applying more sensitive diagnostic tools. Therefore, this study examined the proportion of G6PDd and the distribution of G6PD genotypes among malaria-infected national groups in Myanmar before initiation of malaria elimination strategies. Methods A cross-sectional study in one township each with high malaria burden from two states in the western part of Myanmar, was conducted during 2016-2018, and 320 participants (164 Rakhine and 156 Chin National groups) were recruited. We used RDT and ultrasensitive polymerase chain reaction (us PCR) method to confirm malaria infection, and a G6PD RDT(CareStart) to detect G6PDd and PCR/restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method to confirm the variant of G6PDd for genotyping. G6PD enzyme activity was measured by G6PD Biosensor (CareStart). Results Malaria positivity rates detected by RDT were lower than those detected by us PCR in the combined samples [13% (42/320) vs. 21% (67/320)] as well as in the Rakhine samples [17% (28/164) vs. 25% (41/164)] and in Chin samples [9% (14/156) vs. 17% (26/156)]. G6PD deficiency rates were approximately 10% in both the combined samples and specific national groups. For G6PD enzyme activity in the combined samples, G6PDd (defined as < 30% of adjusted male median) was 10% (31/320) and severe G6PDd (< 10% of AMM) was 3% (9/320). Among malaria-infected patients with positive by both RDT and usPCR, G6PDd was less than 20% in each national group. G6PD genotyping showed that the G6PD Mahidol (G487A) was the major variant. Conclusions The varying degree of G6PDd detected among malaria-infected national groups by advanced diagnostic tools, strongly support the recommend G6PD testing by the National Malaria Control Program and the subsequent safe treatment of P. vivax by primaquine for radical cure. Establishing a field monitoring system to achieve timely malaria elimination is mandatory to observe the safety of patients after PQ treatment.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 838
Author(s):  
Berta Grau-Pujol ◽  
Inocencia Cuamba ◽  
Chenjerai Jairoce ◽  
Anelsio Cossa ◽  
Juliana Da Silva ◽  
...  

Intestinal parasite infections can have detrimental health consequences in children. In Mozambique, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are controlled through mass drug administration since 2011, but no specific control program exists for enteric protozoa. This study evaluates STH and protozoan infections in children attending healthcare in Manhiça district, Southern Mozambique, and its association with water and sanitation conditions. We conducted a cross-sectional study in children between 2 and 10 years old in two health centers (n = 405). A stool sample and metadata were collected from each child. Samples were analyzed by multi-parallel real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). We fitted logistic regression-adjusted models to assess the association between STH or protozoan infection with household water and sanitation use. Nineteen percent were infected with at least one STH and 77.5% with at least one enteric protozoon. qPCR detected 18.8% of participants with intestinal polyparasitism. Protected or unprotected water well use showed a higher risk for at least one protozoan infection in children (OR: 2.59, CI: 1.01–6.65, p-value = 0.010; OR: 5.21, CI: 1.56–17.46, p-value = 0.010, respectively) compared to household piped water. A high proportion of children had enteric protozoan infections. Well consumable water displayed high risk for that.


2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 448-453
Author(s):  
Tatiana Soares ◽  
Maria Claudia Irigoyen ◽  
Sílvia Goldmeier

SUMMARY BACKGROUND The Medical Control Program for Occupational Health establishes the required supplementary exams, according to the activity exercised by the worker and its inherent risks. The Regulatory Norm No. 35, recently deployed, stipulates that at-height workers must undergo electrocardiogram exams as an additional routine examination. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the electrocardiographic standard in at-height. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional study, developed from May 2014 to January 2015 with male at-height workers. Anthropometric and clinical data were collected after the electrocardiogram (ECG). The workers included in the program were evaluated by an occupational medicine service of Serra Gaúcha, responsible for medical assessment and occupational tests. All workers were assessed by the researcher. RESULTS A total of 561 at-height workers participated in the study. The average age was 35.9 ± 12.2 years. A total of 176 (31%) presented electrocardiographic changes in the analysis of the resting ECG. Regarding the amendments in the resting ECG, 15.7% were attributed to changes in ventricular repolarization, 8% as blocks conductions, and 5.8% as left ventricular overload. Demographic variables were not associated with changes in the electrocardiographic tracing CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the electrocardiographic alterations and the profile of at-height workers. These findings can help determine prevention strategies and provide warnings of possible future harms to the health of these workers.


Food Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 1573-1581
Author(s):  
Marina M. ◽  
Asma' A. ◽  
S.N.A. Jaafar ◽  
Abdul Wahab M.R. ◽  
Wan Zainal Shukri W.H.

Nutrition menu labelling has been implemented in a number of restaurants in Malaysia. However, no known empirical research has focused on assessing the knowledge, attitude and perception (KAP) of nutrition menu labelling among consumers. Therefore, this cross -sectional study was conducted with 155 consumers (age 18 and above) from several selected cafeterias that were equipped with menu nutrition labelling to determine their KAP. Questionnaires consisting of socio-demographic, knowledge, attitude and perception of consumers on menu nutrition labelling, and consumers’ healthy food choices were given to the respondents through a self-administrated approach. The data collected were analysed using SPSS 21. The results show that respondent knowledge was predominantly moderate (54.8%), with a median score of 12 out of 25. Both the attitudes (87.1%) and perceptions (85.2%) of the respondents were mainly positive towards nutrition menu labelling. Attitude (r=0.547, p=0.001) and perception (r=0.539, p=0.001) had positive significant relationships towards healthy food choices among the respondents at p<0.05. In conclusion, most consumers have a positive attitude and perception of nutrition menu labelling and may significantly influence towards healthy food choices. Further strategies are needed to increase consumer knowledge of nutrition menu labelling to promote greater usage of this information among Malaysian consumers.


Author(s):  
P. Carnevale ◽  
J. C. Toto ◽  
V. Foumane ◽  
S. Carnevale ◽  
F. Gay

A long term village scale vector control programme was implemented since 2007 in 8 villages around Balombo town (Benguela Province) to compare the efficacy of 4 methods of vector control (1,2). One of them are deltamethrin treated Long Lasting Nets (“LLIN”) “Perma©Net 2.0” with a complete coverage of every sleeping units in 2008 in 2 villages, Caala and Cahata. Cahata was surveyed for 10 years with regular parasitological cross sectional parasitological surveys. During the 3 years following LLIN implementation, a check of their actual usage in every house, or on sleeping units of each patient examined during every parasitological surveys showed that 3 years after the full LLIN distribution less than 50% were still in use, and this percentage regularly decreased to reach 10% and less in 2015 (with 0% during the survey done in October 2005). But Plasmodium falciparum prevalence still decreased with low level until 2014 then it started (slightly) increasing in 2015, and the following years, which correspond to both the National malaria outbreak and the least percentage of LLIN used! But even at that time the plasmodial load was significantly lower in “LLIN users” than in non users showing some maintained personal protection. Even 10 years after the full coverage in LLIN no rebound effect was actually noticed in such natural conditions of life and plasmodial prevalence was even 2 times lower than before the implementation of vector control. Information gained were of great importance for the National Malaria Control program in term of nets replacement with 50% missing in 3 years underlining the need of “stronger” nets and community sensitization for the sustainability of positive results gained with LLIN.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aep Saepudin ◽  
Paulus Anam Ong ◽  
Syarief Hidayat ◽  
Andri Reza Rahmadi ◽  
Laniyati Hamijoyo

Background: Cognitive dysfunction was found in 55-80% Neuropsychiatry Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (NPSLE) patients. Serious concern from clinicans was needed as its impact to patient’s quality of life. Disease activity is expected to be affecting patient’s cognitive function. Previous studies regarding correlation between disease activity and cognitive dysfunction showed various results. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between disease activity and cognitive function in SLE patients.Methods: This study is an analytical cross-sectional study. Subjects were SLE patients at the rheumatology clinic of Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital Bandung during June-August 2017. Subject’s evaluations included disease activity assessment using SLE disease activity index-2K (SLEDAI-2K) and cognitive function assessment using MoCA-Ina test. Data were analyzed by using Spearman Rank correlation test. Results: Mean age of the subjects was 31 ± 8 years old, most of them were senior high school graduates (65.8 %) and median length of study was 12 years. Subject’s median duration of illness was 44 months. Their MoCA-Ina median score was 25, while SLEDAI-2K median score was 6. Cognitive dysfunctions were found in more than half of subjects (52.63%), which memory domain (78.95%) was most frequently impaired. Most of subjects were patients with active SLE (63.2%). Correlation test showed there was no correlation between SLEDAI-2K score and MoCA-Ina score (rs=0.023, p=0.445).Conclusion: There was no correlation between disease activity (SLEDAI-2K score) and cognitive function (MoCA-Ina score). Keywords: Cognitive dysfunction, MoCA-Ina, Systemic lupus erythematosus, SLEDAI-2K


Author(s):  
Jayanthi Sureshbabu ◽  
Senthilvel Vasudevan ◽  
Priyanka Raj

Background: School health education programs provide a convenient platform for engaging the students in health promotion activities. Public health problems like mosquito borne diseases cannot be controlled without active participation of the community and students are a resourceful component of the community who can be encouraged to take up activities to control mosquito borne diseases in the community.Methods: School-based cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2010 to March 2011 among 508 school students selected at random from students studying in the eighth to tenth standard. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: Totally 508 students were included in this study. The number of students unaware of the stages in the mosquito life cycle and the mosquito’s resting habits reduced from 420 (82.68%) to 19 (3.74%) and 103 (20.28%) to 13 (2.56%) respectively. The number of students with correct knowledge of the biting habits of the female mosquito and personal protection (PP) measures increased from 31.69% to 97.05% with statistically highly significant (p <0.0001) and 52.95% to 74.21% respectively.Conclusions: The present study suggested that the school health education program is effective in creating awareness and increasing the knowledge regarding mosquito borne diseases among school children and possibilities of successfully engaging the community at large in the fight against mosquito borne diseases. The need would be to sustain this activity and implement it in schools as part of the vector borne disease control programme.


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