Do doctors in north-western Somalia follow the national guidelines for tuberculosis management?

East Mediterr Health J. 2003 Jul;9(4):789-95.

Abstract

A cross-sectional study assessed the knowledge and practices of registered practitioners in management of tuberculosis (TB) in north-western Somalia. Of 100 registered doctors, 53 were interviewed. Of these, 32 (64%) had treated TB patients during the previous year, but only 1 had notified the authorities, 33 (66%) knew the most important symptoms and 32 (64%) identified sputum smear microscopy as the most important diagnostic test. Only 4 doctors prescribed the correct regimen and only 7 advocated direct observation. Suboptimal knowledge was more common among doctors working in private practice (relative risk: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1-4.3). Patients are being treated in the private sector, but few doctors follow national treatment guidelines. Training in diagnosis and case management is needed to improveTB control in Somalia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Case Management / standards
  • Clinical Competence / standards
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Directly Observed Therapy / standards
  • Female
  • Guideline Adherence / standards*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Services Research
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Needs Assessment
  • Physicians* / organization & administration
  • Physicians* / psychology
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic / standards*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / standards*
  • Private Sector
  • Public Sector
  • Somalia
  • Sputum / microbiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents