Abstract

REIGOTA, Rosilene Maria dos Santos  and  CARANDINA, Luana. Implantação do tratamento supervisionado no, município de Bauru/SP - Avaliação da tuberculose pulmonar, 1999/2000. Bol. Pneumol. Sanit. [online]. 2002, vol.10, n.1, pp.23-30. ISSN 0103-460X.

This study describes the introduction of direct observed treatmen (DOT) on tuberculosis outpatients clinics in Bauru-SP: Initial organizational and patient difficulties during implementation of DOT strategy are addressed. Demographic data from 90 patients with pulmonary was colected from their files and from 71 interviews. Most of the sample was composed by men in the age group 20-49 years, with low income and low educational level. DOT was used in (18,9%) and (8,9%)were treated with a mixed schem. Overall, the cure rate was 75,5% and defaulters ranged 21,1. Defaulter rate was 17,8 times less among those treated with DOT: 4 times greater among men and more frequent among patients on retreatment and comorbidities. During the interviews, 14% of the patients lacked knowledge on tuberculosis infectiveness and they didn't know it could be cured, altjhough na educational programme had been implemented in the Health Units. Coughing andfever were recorded as the most relevant early symptoms. One third of the patients refered medicatin interruption for several days. In conclusion, DOT contributed significantly to reduce defaulting. Also, there is a need for a constant motivatin ofhealth workers, andfor a descentralization oftuberculosis control activities

Keywords : tuberculosis control; supervised treatment; treatment disregard.

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