Tuberculosis treatment experience at Hillbrow Health Centre
Date
2008-11-04T11:55:45Z
Authors
Makhetha, Motseng Malehloa
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Abstract
Tuberculosis remains a communicable disease of major public health importance in
South Africa. The purpose of this study is to search for trends in management of
tuberculosis at Hillbrow Health Centre from 2000 to 2002. Furthermore, to assess
completeness of routine records, compare performance of tuberculosis control in this
clinic with others in region 8 during 2002 and identify residential areas with high
volumes of tuberculosis patients. Data was obtained from tuberculosis documents at the
facility. Information provided by the district office was compared with research findings
and used to evaluate performance of Hillbrow Health Centre against the other four clinics
in the region.
The main findings from the study conducted at Hillbrow Health Centre were the large
number of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis annually and cure rates below 40%
during the study period. In 2002, the clinic reported the highest proportion of TB patients
and the lowest cure rate compared to the other four clinics reporting tuberculosis in
region 8. “Hot spots” for the disease were identified in Hillbrow and Joubert Park
suburbs and this is where Esselen, Hillbrow and Urban Health Clinics are situated. There
is room for improvement of tuberculosis control. More research needs to be done to
determine factors contributing to the high incidence of TB in Hillbrow and Joubert Park
Suburbs.
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Keywords
tuberculosis, case finding, sputum conversion rate, treatment outcomes