1Research Officer In-charge, Department of Medical Research, Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Post Graduate Institute, Puducherry, India
2Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Puducherry
3Chief Medical Officer, Community Health Centre, Thirunallar, Karaikal, Puducherry, India
4Specialist Grade I, Government General Hospital, Karaikal, Puducherry, India
5Director, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, Puducherry, India
*Corresponding author email id: nithiya.ravi@gmail.com
Online published on 16 May, 2018.
Community health assistants in Karaikal region, Puducherry UT, India.
To assess knowledge, attitude and role of health assistants on DOTS implementation and Tuberculosis management in Karaikal region.
We randomly selected 26 health assistants, using qualitative methods and administered open-ended questions to assess the knowledge, attitude and role of health workers before and after a 2-day Indian Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme-Directly Observed Treatment Short course (RNTCP-DOTS) programme for health workers. We also assessed the mode of investigation preferred by them for the diagnosis of TB.
The data were subjected to qualitative content analysis to determine the role of health workers for the elimination of tuberculosis in community. Comparing the pre-and post-test scores, significant difference was observed on paired t test (p=0.001) based on the categories developed.
Knowledge and attitude of health assistants towards TB and DOTS were very low in the pre-test when compared to post-test. After being trained in the 2-day programme, they showed a marked improvement in practical management of TB and DOTS at community level. It is recommended that newly recruited health workers undergo TB-awareness programme within six months from their date of recruitment.
Tuberculosis, Health assistants, RNTCP, Sputum, DOTS, Karaikal, Puducherry
