‘She is like my mother’: Community-based care of drug-resistant tuberculosis in rural Eswatini

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Doris Burtscher
  • Bjertrup, Pia Juul
  • Debrah Vambe
  • Velibanti Dlamini
  • Nqobile Mmema
  • Siphiwe Ngwenya
  • Barbara Rusch
  • Bernhard Kerschberger
Patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) have received community-based care in Eswatini since 2009. Trained and compensated community treatment supporters (CTSs) provide directly observed therapy (DOT), injectables and psychological support. We examined the acceptability of this model of care among DR-TB patients, including the perspective of family members of DR-TB patients and their CTSs in relation to the patient’s experience of care and quality of life. This qualitative research was conducted in rural Eswatini in February 2018. DR-TB patients, CTSs and family members participated in in-depth interviews, paired interviews, focus group discussions and PhotoVoice. Data were thematically analysed and coded, and themes were extracted. Methodological triangulation enhanced the interpretation. All patients and CTSs and most family members considered community-based DR-TB care to be supportive. Positive aspects were emotional support, trust and dedicated individual care, including enabling practical, financial and social factors. Concerns were related to social and economic problems within the family and fears about infection risks for the family and the CTSs. Community-based DR-TB care was acceptable to patients, family members and CTSs. To reduce family members’ fears of TB infection, information and sensitisation within the family and constant follow-up appear crucial.
Original languageEnglish
JournalGlobal Public Health
Volume16
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)1-13
ISSN1744-1692
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

    Research areas

  • Faculty of Social Sciences - Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), Eswatini, PhotoVoice, differentiated models of care, community-based treatment, resource-limited settings, qualitative research

Number of downloads are based on statistics from Google Scholar and www.ku.dk


No data available

ID: 247210738