Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39187751›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2024

Health worker perspectives on barriers and facilitators of tuberculosis investigation coverage among index case contacts in rural Southwestern Uganda: a qualitative study.

Paddy Mutungi Tukamuhebwa, Pascalia Munyewende, Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye, Juliet Nabirye, Ntombizodwa Ndlovu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Paddy Mutungi TukamuhebwaSchool of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. paddytmjwm@gmail.com.
Pascalia MunyewendeSchool of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Nazarius Mbona TumwesigyeDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Juliet NabiryeDepartment of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Ntombizodwa NdlovuSchool of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Funding

TDR, the Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases B40299
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn 2012, the World Health Organization recommended screening and investigation of contacts of index tuberculosis patients as a strategy to accelerate detection of tuberculosis (TB) cases. Nine years after the adoption of this recommendation, coverage of TB contact investigations in Uganda remains low. The objective of this study was to examine health care providers' perceptions of factors influencing coverage of TB contact investigations in three selected rural health facilities in Mbarara district, southwestern Uganda.

methodsThis study identified provider opinions on the barriers and facilitators to implementation of TB contact investigation using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Using an exploratory qualitative study design, semi-structured interviews with 19 health workers involved in the TB program at district, health facility and community levels were conducted from April 2020 and July 2020. Analysis was conducted inductively using reflexive thematic analysis in six iterative steps: familiarizing with the data, creating initial codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes, developing theme definitions, and writing the report.

resultsNineteen health care workers participated in this study which translates to a 100% response rate. These included two district TB and leprosy supervisors, five nurses, five clinical officers, six village health team members and one laboratory technician. The three themes that emerged from the analysis were intervention-related, health system and contextual factors. Health system-related barriers included inadequate or delayed government funding for the TB program, shortage of human resources, insufficient personal protective equipment, and a stock-out of supplies such as Xpert MTB cartridges. Contextual barriers included steep terrain, poverty or low income, and the stigma associated with TB and COVID-19. Facilitators comprised increased knowledge and understanding of the intervention, performance review and on-the-job training of health workers.

conclusionsThis study found that most of the factors affecting TB contact investigations in this rural community were related to health system constraints such as inadequate or delayed funding and human resource shortages. This can be addressed by strengthening the foundational elements of the health system - health financing and human resources - to establish a comprehensive TB control program that will enable the efficient identification of missing TB patients.

Indexed as

Contact TracingHealth PersonnelQualitative ResearchRural PopulationTuberculosisAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelFemaleHumansMaleUgandaConsolidated Framework for Implementation ResearchCoverageTB contact investigation

Identifiers

PMID39187751
PMCPMC11348719

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.