Factors associated with community-based TB care in the Omaheke region, Namibia

Abstract

This study investigated factors associated with the successful implementation of community-based tuberculosis (TB) care in the Omaheke region, Namibia. The TB control and management programme appeared to be ineffective in this region. TB treatment outcomes revealed a 51.4 percent defaulter rate, 3.0 percent case detection rate and 28.0 percent cure rate (MoHSS 2004:83). The introduction of community-based TB care was envisaged to improve the TB treatment outcomes. A non-intervention design was used to identify factors that the community members felt could facilitate the implementation of this strategy. More service-related than community-related factors that influenced the successful implementation of community-based TB care in the Omaheke region of Namibia were identified. The study concluded that the point of departure for the implementation of community- based TB care was the acknowledgement by the community and nurses that TB was a problem and that community-based TB care was the appropriate strategy to address this problem.