Knowledge and practice of private practitioners in TB control in Addis Ababa

Private clinics and hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

To assess the knowledge of private practitioners (PPs) with regard to tuberculosis (TB) control and their practice of TB diagnosis, treatment and monitoring.

A descriptive survey was conducted among PPs. A total of 120 responded to a self-administered questionnaire.

According to 81.5% of the PPs, at least two to five TB cases were diagnosed in their clinic per week. The correct anti-tuberculosis treatment regimens recommended by the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) were mentioned by only 9.7% of the doctors, while 63% listed 68 regimens. The majority (41.0%) monitored treatment using chest X-ray (CXR) alone, while 21.0% use CXR in combination with another diagnostic tool. Eighty per cent of the PPs did not keep a TB register, and case holding was non-existent.

PPs in Addis Ababa diagnose a high number of TB cases. However, there is a huge lack of information on anti-tuberculosis treatment. This shows the likely irrational use of the few available anti-tuberculosis drugs, which may favour the emergence and spread of drug resistance.