Qualitative Assessment of Challenges in Tuberculosis control in Public Health Facilities of Bule Hora Town, Ethiopia; Health Workers’ and Tuberculosis control Program Coordinators’ Perspectives, 2020

Abstract

Introduction: The Millennium Development Goal target of halting and reversing TB incidence has been achieved on a global scale. Mortality from TB has fallen by 47% since 1990. Despite these gains, however, TB still remains a major worldwide health crisis. According to a recent WHO report, there where in 2018, an estimated 10 million people fell sick with tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. 5.7 million Men, 3.2 million women and 1.1 million children. Poor health systems pose many barriers to effective tuberculosis (TB) control. This study aimed at exploring health workers and TB control program coordinator’s perspectives on health systems challenges facing TB control in Bule Hora Town, Oromia Region, southern, Ethiopia. Objective: To identify challenges of health care workers and tuberculosis control program co-ordinator towards tuberculosis control at Public health facilities of Bule Hora town-2020. Method: Qualitative study was conducted at Public health facilities of Bule Hora town, Ethiopia. Four in-depth interviews with TB control program coordinators and two focus group discussions among 8 health workers were conducted. Purposive sampling was used to recruit study participants. Thematic analysis was used to identify and analyze main themes. Results: We identified that shortage of laboratory reagents, Shortages of TB diagnostic tools and intermittent supply of anti-TB drugs, shortage of trained and motivated health care staffs, Poor community TB mobilization and collaboration between health institutions were challenges facing the TB control program performance in the study area. Conclusion: Ensuring no proper supply of anti-TB drugs, laboratory reagents and Shortages of TB diagnostic tools to all health facilities is essential. Continuous updated training of health workers on standard TB care and data handling, developing and implementing a sound retention strategy to attract and motivate health professionals to work in study areas are necessary interventions to improve the TB control program performance in the study area.