Challenges Faced by Patients while Undertaking Treatment for Tuberculosis

Authors

  • Suveera Batra DPS International, Saket
  • Dr. Pallavi Parwar AIIMS, New Delhi

Keywords:

Tuberculosis, DOTS centre, New Delhi, Challenges, Patients, Cost, Isolation, Side-effects, Inconvenience, Transport, Income

Abstract

Despite the immunisation of 92% of the Indian population against tuberculosis with the bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine, India recorded 79,000 deaths due to this bacterial infection. Professionals in the field have tried to find the reason behind both, the high mortality and high infection rate in the country with the aim of eliminating tuberculosis in India by 2025 as part of the TB National Strategic Plan. A significant reason identified for this phenomenon is non-adherence to treatment due to challenges faced by the patients while undertaking treatment. The aim of the present research study is to identify the challenges faced by  Indian tuberculosis patients visiting a dispensary in South Delhi undertaking treatment for tuberculosis and evaluating their relative importance in influencing their treatment experience through a mixed-method approach. Financial difficulties/loss of job/ school was found to have the highest mean rating which mirrors the trend in other developing countries such as Bangladesh. The study has implications for the government at different levels and private hospitals can be convinced that providing free-of-cost treatment is not enough and more budget should be allocated to tuberculosis treatment to ensure that patients receive a wholesome diet during and post-treatment. The need for post-treatment monitoring systems to be developed is also highlighted by the study and can be brought to the notice of authorities. These changes combined would be a great step to improving public health crises such as the transmission of infectious diseases in developing countries like India.

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Author Biography

Dr. Pallavi Parwar, AIIMS, New Delhi

Advisor

References or Bibliography

merican Lung Association. (2020, October 24). Tuberculosis.

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/tuberculosis/learn-about-tuberculosis

Rodriguez,D.(2010, December 16). Death From a Preventable Disease:Tuberculosis. Everyday Health. https://www.everydayhealth.com/tuberculosis/death-from-a-preventable-disease.aspx

Gebreweld, F. H., Kifle, M. M., Gebremicheal, F. E., Simel, L. L., Gezae, M. M., Ghebreyesus, S. S., Mengsteab, Y. T., & Wahd, N. G. (2018). Factors influencing adherence to tuberculosis treatment in Asmara, Eritrea: a qualitative study. Journal of health, population, and nutrition, 37(1), 1.

Published

06-15-2022

How to Cite

Batra, S., & Parwar, P. (2022). Challenges Faced by Patients while Undertaking Treatment for Tuberculosis. Journal of Student Research. Retrieved from https://www.jsr.org/hs/index.php/path/article/view/2770

Issue

Section

Research Posters