Process Evaluation of Quality in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculosis in Public Health Facilies of Southwes Ethiopia: Cross Sectional Study

Background: Even though Ethiopia has implemented the Directly Observed Treatment Short (DOTS) service for a long time, the national targets of Tuberculosis (TB) control were not achieved yet. Like the country wide, the Kersa district shares the same problem, and also TB control program have never been evaluated in this district. Methods: Process evaluation was conducted based on Donabedian’s structure-process-outcome model of health care quality. Facility based cross-sectional study design was employed. Four, tuberculosis directly observed short course therapy providing health centers were selected. Medical records of TB suspects and patients were reviewed. Ongoing laboratory practice and patient provider interaction was observed. Results: The resources recommended by national tuberculosis control program for diagnosis and treatment were available, except a shortage of paediatric dose of TB drug and Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) reagents. Only 64.8% of TB suspects received sputum smear laboratory examination, and 52.7% of TB patients received the right doses of treatment. Conclusion: The shortage of drugs and reagents and, low uptake of microscopic AFB examination service was the main constraints of service. Adequate and continuous resource supply and regular and continuous monitoring of diagnosis and treatment process should be considered. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2016;6(4): 156-162  

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