Gridlock from diagnosis to treatment of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Tanzania: patients' perspectives from a focus group discussion.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Molecular diagnostics have revolutionized the diagnosis of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Yet in Tanzania we found delay in diagnosis with more than 70% of MDR-TB patients having a history of several previous treatment courses for TB signaling prior opportunities for diagnosis. We aimed to explore patients' viewpoints and experiences with personal and socio-behavioral obstacles from MDR-TB diagnosis to treatment in an attempt to understand these prior findings.

Methods

The study was conducted in December 2016 with MDR-TB patients admitted at Kibong'oto Infectious Diseases Hospital. A qualitative approach deploying focus group discussions (FGDs) was used to gather information. Groups were sex aggregated to allow free interaction and to gauge gender spec

SUBMITTER: Mpagama SG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7648291 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature