A short study to assess treatment outcome among tuberculosis patients under rntcp in a health post of an urban slum

Background: This study is intended to give more insight into the various problems faced by patients on Category 2 treatment in order to assist the program managers devise better methods for management of default, retreatment and failure cases. General objectives of this study was to assess treatment outcome among tuberculosis patients under RNTCP in a health post of an urban slum. Specific objectives of the study are 1) To know the treatment outcome among tuberculosis patients placed under RNTCP in a health post of an urban slum, 2) To study the sociodemographic profile and 3)The association between above factors with treatment outcome.
Methods: This study is based on retrospective collection of data from the tuberculosis register of a health post from 1st January 2014 to 31st January 2014.Data was collected using pre-structured proforma.
Results: Out of 50 patients registered under RNTCP in the month of January 2014 62% were female 38% male, 86% had pulmonary TB 14% extra pulmonary, 62% category 1 38% category 2, 6% sputum positive and 92% sputum negative. At the end of the treatment 52% completed treatment, 10% were cured 30% defaulted, 4% were MDR confirmed, 4% died during the treatment
Conclusion: 30% patient defaulted and only 52% completed the treatment, RNTCP programme should be strengthen to increase the treatment completion percent and decrease the default percent by making the program flexible and patient friendly by providing drugs according to patients convenience. There should be a inbuilt evaluation system to find out reasons for default and should recommend solution to overcome it.