Accessibility to tuberculosis treatment: assessment of health service performance

Authors

  • Tiemi Arakawa Universidade de São Paulo; Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto
  • Ricardo Alexandre Arcêncio Universidade de São Paulo; Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto
  • Beatriz Estuque Scatolin Universidade de São Paulo; Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto
  • Lúcia Marina Scatena Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro; Departamento de Medicina Social
  • Antônio Ruffino-Netto Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto
  • Tereza Cristina Scatena Villa Universidade de São Paulo; Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692011000400019

Keywords:

Tuberculosis, Directly Observed Therapy, Health Services Evaluation, Health Services Accessibility

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the accessibility of patients to the treatment of tuberculosis in Ribeirão Preto, countryside of São Paulo State. Evaluation study type, with a quantity approach. Interviews with 100 patients initiated on anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy between 2006-2007 were conducted, using a structured questionnaire based on the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT). Data were analyzed through variance analysis. There was a positive feedback regarding to organizational accessibility, however, the performance of health services has been unsatisfactory in providing transportation vouchers and in addressing the need to use transport for displacement to the health unit, resulting in indirect costs to patients. The services with the highest number of patients treated were those with higher irregularity in the conduct of home visits, showing that the availability of resources (human, material and time) and the organization of care may influence the accessibility to treatment.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Published

2011-08-01

Issue

Section

Editorial

How to Cite

Accessibility to tuberculosis treatment: assessment of health service performance . (2011). Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 19(4), 994-1002. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692011000400019