Reasons for non-compliance among patients treated under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) , Tiruvallur district, south India
Jaggarajamma, K.; Sudha, G.; Chandrasekaran, V.; Nirupa, C.; Thomas, A.; Santha, T.; Muniyandi, M.; Narayanan, P.R.
Indian Journal of Tuberculosis 54(3): 130-135
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5707 PMID: 17886701 Document Number: 200811
Objectives: To identify the reasons for treatment default among tuberculosis (TB) patients under the RNTCPs. Methods: A total of 186 defaulters among the 938 patients registered during the 3rd and 4th quarters of 1999 and 2001 in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, India were studied, along with their DOT (directly observed therapy) providers. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect data. Results: Sixteen (9%) had completed treatment, 25 (13%) died after defaulting, and 4(2%) could not be traced. The main reasons cited by the remaining 141 patients and their DOT providers, respectively, were: drug related problems (42% and 34%), migration (29% and 31%), relief from symptoms (20% and 16%), work related (15% and 10%), alcohol consumption (15% and 21%), and treatment from other centres (13% and 4%). Risk factors for defaulting were alcoholism (P<0.001), category of treatment (P<0.001), smear status (P<0.001), type of disease (P<0.001), and inconvenience for DOT (P<0.01). Conclusion: This study indicates that men, alcoholics, smear positive cases, and those with inconvenient DOT were at-risk for defaulting from treatment. Intensifying motivation and counselling are likely to improve patient compliance and reduce default.