IngentaConnect Initial defaulting in the National Tuberculosis Programme in Ho C...

Authors: Buu T.N.¹; Lönnroth K.²; Quy H.T.¹

Source: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 7, Number 8, August 2003 , pp. 735-741(7)

Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Abstract:

SETTING: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

AIM: To determine the extent of initial default in the NTP, the reasons for initial default, health seeking after initial default and treatment received at other health facilities.

METHOD: Questionnaire-based interviews of patients who were diagnosed with sputum-positive TB in the NTP during 2000 and who did not register for treatment in the NTP.

RESULTS: The initial default rate was 8.3%; 79% gave reasons related to the NTP working procedures or treatment strategy, while 17.5% gave reasons related to insufficient knowledge among patients about TB and/or the need for treatment. Sixty-five per cent had been treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs at other health facilities after default, of which 74% had been treated at fully private facilities.

CONCLUSION: Initial default is mainly caused by some patientsÕ negative perceptions of working procedures and/or treatment strategy in the NTP. The majority of these patients are treated in private clinics after default from the NTP. The NTP needs to improve patientsÕ perceptions of the treatment strategy and develop more user-friendly services that enable more patients to access treatment and reduce the risk of patients receiving sub-standard treatment in the private sector.

Keywords: tuberculosis programme; initial defaulting; health seeking; private health care

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Pham Ngoc Thach TB and Lung Disease Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 2: Department of Social Medicine, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden

Initial defaulting in the National Tuberculosis Programme in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: a survey of extent, reasons and alternative actions taken following default