Factors contributing to pulmonary tuberculosis patients' non-conversion at clinics in Ekurhuleni Health District

Abstract

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.