Planning for PPM-DOTS implementation in urban slums in Kenya: Knowledge, attitude and practices of private health care providers in Kibera slum, Nairobi
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Date
2005Author
Chakaya, J.M
Meme, H
Kwamanga, D
Githui, W. A
Onyango-Ouma, W
Gichecha, C
Karimi, F
Mansoer, J
Kutwa, A
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
SETTING: Kibera, the largest slum in Nairobi, Kenya.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the tuberculosis (TB) knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of private health care providers (PHCPs) to identify their training needs and willingness to participate in a National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Programme (NLTP) guided TB control effort in the slum.
DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional survey. The KAP of PHCPs was assessed using an interviewer administered questionnaire.
RESULTS: Of 75 PHCPs interviewed, the majority (96.0%) were paramedics; 51 (77.1%) did not consider sputum smear microscopy crucial in patients presenting with prolonged cough or when a chest X-ray was suggestive of TB; of 29 (38.7%) who indicated familiarity with the drugs used in TB treatment, 20 (58.5%) would have chosen the NLTP-recommended regimens for the treatment of the various types of TB; 16 (21.3%) PHCPs indicated that they treated TB, six (37.5%) of whom were not familiar with anti-tuberculosis drug regimens. All the PHCPs referred TB suspects to the public sector for diagnosis.
CONCLUSION: This study reveals a significant gap in TB knowledge among the PHCPs in Kibera slum. However, given appropriate training and supervision, there is potential for public-private mix for DOTS implementation in this setting.
Keywords: Kenya; TB; private health care; slums
Citation
Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 9 (4): 403 -408.Publisher
University of Nairobi Institute of African Studies