Barriers to Treatment Compliance of Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse among Pulmunary Tuberculosis Patients

  • Sujan Babu Marahatta Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Rajesh Kumar Yadav Health Research Together Initiative (HeaRT-Initiaitve), Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Sushila Baral Health Research Together Initiative (HeaRT-Initiaitve), Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Neeta Aryal Health Research Together Initiative (HeaRT-Initiaitve), Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Srijana Paudel National Academy of Medical Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Naveen Prakash Shah National Tuberculosis Centre, Ministry of Health and Population, Bhaktapur, Nepal
  • Punita Yadav Krishan Medial and Technical Research Centre, Janakpurdham, Nepal
  • Suman Chandra Gurung Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool, UK
  • Elina Khatri Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

Background: Treatment compliance is an important aspect for tuberculosis prevention and control. Poor compliance to treatment can lead to the development of drug-resistant tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to explore the factors affecting treatment compliance for tuberculosis patients.
Methods: Facility based unmatched case control study was done among the forty non-compliance and eighty compliance pulmonary tuberculosis patients registered at selected directly observed treatment short-course centers of six districts. Data were collected using in-depth interview guideline with the tuberculosis focal person and Focus Group Discussion with tuberculosis patients.
Results: A total of 120 respondents, 40 cases and 80 controls were enrolled in the study. About 72.5% of the cases and 56.2% of the controls were male. Five significant independent risk factors for non-compliance to TB treatment were identified. The qualitative session confirmed geographical barriers, inaccessibility to health facility, economic barriers, difficulty in convincing people, knowledge about Directly observed treatment shortcourse program, longer medication period, migration and stigma as a major barrier for treatment compliance.
Conclusions: Wider ranges of barriers are prevalent in context of tuberculosis treatment pathway and outcome. Knowledge of the tuberculosis patients and attitude of the family plays a vital role in treatment compliance. Directly observed treatment shortcourse playing tremendous role to ensure treatment adherence has been identified as major barrier to adherence as well. Enablers of adherence need to be emphasized to address the barriers.
Keywords: Barriers; DOTS; mixed method; Nepal; treatment compliance; tuberculosis

Published
2021-12-10
How to Cite
MarahattaS. B., YadavR. K., BaralS., AryalN., PaudelS., ShahN. P., YadavP., GurungS. C., & KhatriE. (2021). Barriers to Treatment Compliance of Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse among Pulmunary Tuberculosis Patients. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 19(03), 450-459. https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v19i3.3478