Referral of presumptive TB among operators of community medicine outlets
METHODS: In 2019–2020, we conducted computer-assisted telephone interviews among community pharmacists and OTC medicine sellers in the Eastern Region of Ghana. We used a structured questionnaire and collected data on respondents´ sociodemographics and professional characteristics. We used logistic regression to investigate characteristics associated with self-reported referral of presumptive TB cases.
RESULTS: Of all respondents who completed the interviews, 68.7% (321/467) reported having ever referred a presumptive TB case and 72.1% (336/466) had received specific training. Associated factors of presumptive TB referral were having received specific training (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.5–4.9); performing both dispensing and managerial functions (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.4–5.5); operating from OTC shop (OR 6.2, 95% CI 1.6–23.4) and the availability of a TB laboratory within walking distance (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.2–9.5).
CONCLUSION: Interviewees largely support TB referral. However, a significant proportion does not follow the strategy closely. We recommend more specific TB training courses.
Keywords: Ghana; computer-assisted telephone interviews; pharmacists; presumptive tuberculosis referral; public-private partnership
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Department for Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany, PhD Programme Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig and Hanover Biomedical Research School, Medical School Hanover, Germany, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana 2: Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana, Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute of Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany 3: Department for Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany, Medical School Hanover (MHH), Hanover, Germany, TI Epidemiology, German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hanover, Germany 4: Department for Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany 5: Department for Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany, TI Epidemiology, German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hanover, Germany
Publication date: 01 December 2021
The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.
The IJTLD is dedicated to understanding lung disease and to the dissemination of knowledge leading to better lung health. To allow us to share scientific research as rapidly as possible, the IJTLD is fast-tracking the publication of certain articles as preprints prior to their publication. Read fast-track articles.
- Editorial Board
- Information for Authors
- Subscribe to this Title
- International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
- Public Health Action
- Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites
Receive new issue alert- Access Key
- Free content
- Partial Free content
- New content
- Open access content
- Partial Open access content
- Subscribed content
- Partial Subscribed content
- Free trial content