Facilitators and barriers to TB care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public Health Action 2022;
12:174-179. [PMID:
36561910 PMCID:
PMC9716826 DOI:
10.5588/pha.22.0039]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Knowledge about factors influencing access and adherence to TB care, and on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB care in resource-restricted settings is scarce. We conducted this study in Atsimo-Andrefana, a rural region in southern Madagascar where TB prevalence, poverty and food insecurity rates are high. We aimed to determine facilitators and barriers to access to and provision of TB care in rural Madagascar during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
We conducted qualitative focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) with patients with TB, community health workers, facility-based health workers, public health officials and non-governmental organisation staff. We analysed interviews using thematic analysis.
RESULTS
We conducted 11 FGDs and 23 IDIs. We identified three main barriers to access and adherence to TB care: 1) stigma, 2) indirect treatment costs, and 3) food insecurity. The facilitator perceived as most influential was high health worker motivation. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB care varied between stake-holders; some health workers described delays in TB diagnosis and increased workload.
CONCLUSIONS
To improve access and adherence to TB care, both indirect treatment costs and stigma need to be reduced; undernourished patients with TB should receive food support.
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