Navigating DR-TB Treatment care: a qualitative exploration of barriers and facilitators to retention in care among people with history of early disengagement from drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment in Johannesburg, South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite advances in drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) diagnosis, treatment, and service delivery, individuals with DR-TB often face significant socioeconomic and psychosocial challenges due to limited resources. These challenges can hinder retention in care, undermining the progress made in DR-TB management. As a consequence, advances in DR-TB diagnostics and treatment have not resulted in DR-TB programs meeting the 75% treatment success targets set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Methods

We interviewed people with DR-TB who had disengaged from care and their family members to identify barriers and facilitators to retention in care as well as possible strategies to address these barriers. We recruited 16 people with DR-TB and 8 family members from five h

SUBMITTER: Mphothulo N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11755869 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature