Abstract
Evaluation of the Tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) Program in Ozamiz City, Philippines
Kristine Lou L. De la Vega1, Sophia Fairsun Edma1, Joyce H. Colanggo1, Victoria E. Matunog2,3
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by infection with Mycobacterium
tuberculosis that the government has remained in combat for some decades. The
condition persisted even in the implementation of DOTS (Direct Observation
Treatment Short-course) by the Department of Health. The detection of
multidrug-resistant TB has hastened the menace of the scourge. Thus, this study
evaluated DOTS program through treatment outcome for the period 2012-2015
in Ozamiz City, Philippines, using the descriptive method through documentary
analysis. Records of TB-DOTS patients were obtained from the City Health
Office. Collated data included age, sex, duration of treatment, the reason(s) to
stop the procedure, and recurrence. A total of 1672 cases of TB treated with
DOTS comprised the population of the study with 1065 males and 607 females.
These registrants were categorized as pulmonary positive and pulmonary
negative tuberculosis. The overall successful treatments for the specified period
were 93.9% and 6.1 % for the treatment failure. This result is within the target
rate of the World Health Organization which manifested the impact of
TB-DOTS program in the area. Reasons for failure can be speculated to include
poor patient observation during treatment, poor treatment compliance,
inadequate recording and reporting system, inadequate treatment regimens, and
an increased incidence of drug resistance. The result of the study can be used by
the city health workers to revisit TB-DOTS program and formulate new policies
to achieve 100% successful treatment.
KEYWORDS: compliance, failure, pulmonary, recurrence, treatments
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