Care of tuberculosis patients at the community level in the state of Chiapas, Mexico

• Published in: Boletin de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana. Pan American Sanitary Bureau Vol. 111; no. 5; p. 432
• Main Authors: Solórzano Moguel, J J, Alvarez Cuevas, M E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: United States 01.11.1991
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; BCG Vaccine; Community Health Services; Health Promotion - organization & administration; Health Resources; Humans; Incidence; Mexico - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - isolation & purification; National Health Programs; Tuberculosis - diagnosis; Tuberculosis - drug therapy; Tuberculosis - epidemiology; Tuberculosis - microbiology; Tuberculosis - prevention & control; Mexico
• ISSN: 0030-0632

From August 1989 to August 1990 in the municipio of Chicomuselo, State of Chiapas--an area with a high incidence of tuberculosis--health promoters were trained to carry out priority actions as part of the National Campaign Against Tuberculosis. A program to provide training, semi-monthly evaluation of the work carried out, detection of new cases, treatment supervision, and contact tracing was established utilizing the structure and resources of the Campaign. The health promoters were assigned the following functions: searching for patients with respiratory symptoms and conducting sputum smear examinations, examining postvaccination scars in persons under 15 years of age, and tracing tuberculosis patient contacts. In total, 1,778 doses of BCG vaccine were administered to individuals under 15 years of age in 35 communities; 144 patients with respiratory symptoms were studied; 257 sputum smear examinations were carried out; and 26 cases of tuberculosis were diagnosed. The most affected age group consisted of those 15 to 45 years old. Patients were monitored during treatment through sputum smear examinations. Twenty-nine persons started the treatment and 24 completed it; 24 were cured, five did not complete the treatment, two abandoned it, and three died. There were no treatment failures. The efficiency of the program was 82% and its effectiveness, 100%. The results show that it is possible to utilize the human resources in a community to carry out health programs. The community members' acceptance of and support for the program was due in part to that fact that their interests were taken into account in its implementation.