Understanding the socio-cultural dimensions of defaulting in TB treatment: A study about selected male and female TB defaulters in Iligan City

• Main Author: Hussein, Faris A.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2003
• Subjects: Tuberculosis—Patients—Philippines—Iligan City—Psychology; Tuberculosis—Treatment—Philippines—Iligan City—Psychological aspects; Mental and Social Health
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3117; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9955&context=etd_masteral
• Institution: De La Salle University

The issue of treatment defaulters in TB treatment programs is one major concern. Using semi structured interview guide, twenty-two positively selected TB defaulters in five Barangay Health Centers (BHCs) in Iligan City were interviewed in attempt to understand barriers to compliance from a wider socio-economic, cultural and behavioral perspective. Data about popular perceptions and attitude about TB was supplemented through two focus group discussions (FGDs) with community folks in two separate Barangays in Iligan City. Data gathered was subjected to thematic analysis. Of the various factors that surfaced during data analysis, pre existing poor health motivation and lack of logistics in the part of TB care services appear to have tangible impact on how KIs had come to deal with their illness. Poverty seems to be the main reason why KIs become TB victims in the first place and, for most part, why they appear to have neither the resources nor a strong motivation to have the illness cured. Illness denial due to the stigma of TB was the major cultural component of defaulting behavior. It is this intricate association between the micro level individual behavior (poor motivation and illness denial) and macro level socio-cultural factors (poverty and stigma) that makes illness behavior a dynamic process rather than a fixed personality trait. The impact of knowledge and perceptions about TB on illness behavior appear to be less critical, as patients' actuation appear to be based on more pragmatic concerns. There is no evidence poor patient-doctor bond and lack of explicit support from family and friends is a prime factor in defaulting. It is a e real challenge to create psychological tools that can enhance level of health motivation and make TB patients become open and candid about TB without necessarily changing the social and cultural foundation of TB patients. It is also a challenge to TB programs to create services with no logistic limitations that are not socially distant to patients. Hence future research must stress analysis of quality services at health centers and behavioral studies with control groups. TB is a social phenomenon as much as it is a clinical entity. Defaulting is an individual level phenomenon as well as a social reality.