Assessment of knowledge and practice of private practitioners regarding tuberculosis control in Ethiopia

Introduction:  Ethiopia has a growing private health sector. In recent years, the directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) strategy was initiated in selected private health facilities in the country. The objective of the present study was to assess knowledge and practice of private practition...

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Main Authors: Solomon A Yimer, Carol Holm-Hansen, Gunnar Bjune
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2011-11-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1927
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author Solomon A Yimer
Carol Holm-Hansen
Gunnar Bjune
author_facet Solomon A Yimer
Carol Holm-Hansen
Gunnar Bjune
author_sort Solomon A Yimer
collection DOAJ
description Introduction:  Ethiopia has a growing private health sector. In recent years, the directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) strategy was initiated in selected private health facilities in the country. The objective of the present study was to assess knowledge and practice of private practitioners in tuberculosis (TB) control in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Methodology: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 112 private practitioners selected from all private health facilities in the region. The study was conducted between May and August 2008 and data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Group differences were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: Fifty-nine (52.7%) of the private practitioners suspected TB in patients with three weeks' duration of cough. Only 37 (33.0%) of the private practitioners were able to precisely list the correct treatment regimens for all categories as recommended in the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program guidelines. The correct frequency of TB treatment monitoring was provided by 44 (50%) of the respondents.  Overall 44 (39.3%) of the private practitioners did not have satisfactory knowledge about the directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) strategy. Those who attended DOTS training during the two years prior to the survey were more likely to have satisfactory knowledge compared to those who did not receive training (OR 4.45, 95% CI: 1.33, 14.87, p < 0.02). Conclusion: A significant proportion of private practitioners did not have satisfactory knowledge and practice about DOTS. The provision of regular DOTS refresher courses improves TB management for patients in the region.
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spelling doaj-art-e97794842cdd47cfa0e8a7beb7383fd32025-08-20T02:16:15ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802011-11-0160110.3855/jidc.1927Assessment of knowledge and practice of private practitioners regarding tuberculosis control in EthiopiaSolomon A Yimer0Carol Holm-Hansen1Gunnar Bjune2Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, NorwayNorwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, NorwayFaculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, NorwayIntroduction:  Ethiopia has a growing private health sector. In recent years, the directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) strategy was initiated in selected private health facilities in the country. The objective of the present study was to assess knowledge and practice of private practitioners in tuberculosis (TB) control in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Methodology: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 112 private practitioners selected from all private health facilities in the region. The study was conducted between May and August 2008 and data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Group differences were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: Fifty-nine (52.7%) of the private practitioners suspected TB in patients with three weeks' duration of cough. Only 37 (33.0%) of the private practitioners were able to precisely list the correct treatment regimens for all categories as recommended in the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program guidelines. The correct frequency of TB treatment monitoring was provided by 44 (50%) of the respondents.  Overall 44 (39.3%) of the private practitioners did not have satisfactory knowledge about the directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) strategy. Those who attended DOTS training during the two years prior to the survey were more likely to have satisfactory knowledge compared to those who did not receive training (OR 4.45, 95% CI: 1.33, 14.87, p < 0.02). Conclusion: A significant proportion of private practitioners did not have satisfactory knowledge and practice about DOTS. The provision of regular DOTS refresher courses improves TB management for patients in the region. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1927tuberculosisprivate practitionersKnowledgeEthiopia
spellingShingle Solomon A Yimer
Carol Holm-Hansen
Gunnar Bjune
Assessment of knowledge and practice of private practitioners regarding tuberculosis control in Ethiopia
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
tuberculosis
private practitioners
Knowledge
Ethiopia
title Assessment of knowledge and practice of private practitioners regarding tuberculosis control in Ethiopia
title_full Assessment of knowledge and practice of private practitioners regarding tuberculosis control in Ethiopia
title_fullStr Assessment of knowledge and practice of private practitioners regarding tuberculosis control in Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of knowledge and practice of private practitioners regarding tuberculosis control in Ethiopia
title_short Assessment of knowledge and practice of private practitioners regarding tuberculosis control in Ethiopia
title_sort assessment of knowledge and practice of private practitioners regarding tuberculosis control in ethiopia
topic tuberculosis
private practitioners
Knowledge
Ethiopia
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1927
work_keys_str_mv AT solomonayimer assessmentofknowledgeandpracticeofprivatepractitionersregardingtuberculosiscontrolinethiopia
AT carolholmhansen assessmentofknowledgeandpracticeofprivatepractitionersregardingtuberculosiscontrolinethiopia
AT gunnarbjune assessmentofknowledgeandpracticeofprivatepractitionersregardingtuberculosiscontrolinethiopia