Access to tuberculosis diagnosis in a municipality of the Western Amazon: health professionals’ perspective

• Autor(a) principal: Braga, Rebeca Sousa
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Ferreira, Melisane Regina Lima, Bonfim, Rafaele Oliveira, Siqueira, Tatiane Cabral, Orfão, Nathalia Halax
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng; por
• Título da fonte: Revista de Epidemiologia e Controle de Infecção
• Texto Completo: https://online.unisc.br/seer/index.php/epidemiologia/article/view/18114
• topic: Tuberculose; Pessoal de saúde; Diagnóstico; Serviços de saúde

Background and Objective: identifying the factors that weaken access to tuberculosis diagnosis allows assessing the actions and surveillance strategies of Primary Health Care (PHC), in addition to ensuring follow-up and monitoring of cases. This study aimed to analyze the dimension of access to diagnosis in PHC from health professionals’ perspective in a municipality in the Western Amazon. Methods: this is a descriptive survey-type study, carried out in a cross-sectional way and with a quantitative approach in Porto Velho with professionals who work in PHC in the urban area through interviews with the Primary Care Assessment Tool questionnaire, validated for Brazil and adapted for tuberculosis care. Only the access to diagnosis dimension of the version for health professionals was considered, which has twelve variables and presents categories of responses according to the Likert scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, after complying with ethical precepts. Results: a total of 266 professionals were interviewed, and the mean score was classified as regular as well as they almost always have difficulty obtaining information over the phone; sometimes they use motorized transport; have costs with public transport to travel to the health unit; and sometimes they miss a work shift or appointment for the appointment. Conclusion: it is essential to reflect on the role with PHC insertion and resolvability as well as adequate clinical conduct, considering the epidemiological data that remain challenging in the municipality.