Factors contributing to pulmonary tuberculosis patients' non-conversion at clinics in Ekurhuleni Health District
Baloyi, Ntwanano Fiona
According to the Global Tuberculosis report of 2015, South Africa had about 834 TB
cases per 100 000 people, which was the second-highest rate of TB occurrence in the
world. In response, 19 municipalities in South Africa identified districts with a high
burden of TB and these were prioritised for concomitant remedial attention by the
National Strategic Plan. The Ekurhuleni District Municipality was identified as one of
those districts. Tuberculosis patients’ non-conversion is a major contributing factor to
strategies designed to end Tuberculosis in South Africa. The purpose of the study was
to determine factors contributing to pulmonary Tuberculosis patients’ non-conversion
at two months of treatment. The study was conducted at five East sub-district clinics
of Ekurhuleni Health District. A qualitative, explorative, and descriptive research
design was adopted. Data were collected in two phases, through virtual and face-to face interviews with seventeen purposively sampled participants comprising nine
health care professionals and eight patients with Tuberculosis. Thematic data analysis
was used to generate findings that revealed three themes in each phase. The following
were determined as contributory factors to Tuberculosis patients’ non-conversion as
stated by the nurses: health system service, patient care, and social factors. Findings
generated by the patients revealed health care, socio-economic and patient-related
factors as contributing to non-conversion. There is a need to explore strategies that
can address health care, patients' issues, and social issues faced by the nurses and
patients.
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