Evaluation Of Performance of Revised National Tb Control Programme in Jamnagar District, Gujarat

Abstract

Background: Knowledge about performance of DOTS services in a given area shall provide vital information to find out discrepancies in DOT services and take necessary steps to strengthen the services in that area. The objective of the study is to evaluate functioning of DOT centres (both DOT providers and TB patients) by various indicators like record keeping, compliance of patients, proportion of supervised doses etc.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional study. We identified and interviewed health personnel involved, reviewed the documents and records of all four Tuberculosis Units (TUs) of Jamnagar district. TB registers of all TUs of the district were reviewed and every 3^rd TB patient registered from 1^st January, 2009 to 30^th June, 2009 (i.e. first two quarters of year 2009), was selected by systematic random sampling method.

Results: About half of TB patients (52.16%) were representing the productive age group, with a male female ratio being 2.1:1. Every fifth patient was irregular in the treatment during Intensive Phase. Treatment was delayed by more than a week after diagnosis in 10% patients. Entry of Continuation Phase in treatment card was satisfactory in 61.29% patients. Compliance of patients was found satisfactory only in 74.19% patients. 85.68% patients found location and timing of DOT centre convenient. In only 81.37% of total defaulted TB patients, retrieval actions were taken by a TB worker.

Conclusion: There is an urgent need to strengthen performance of the programme by training and motivating DOTS providers by effective supervision of DOTS, proper record-keeping and efficient supervision by district health officials.