Effect of COVID-19 on paediatric TB service delivery and patients' comfort receiving TB services in Cameroon and Kenya during COVID: a qualitative assessment.

Autor:	Mbunka MA; Research, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Yaoundé, Cameroon., Katirayi L; Research, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Washington, District of Columbia, USA., McCormick S; The George Washington University Milken Institute of Public Health, Washington, District of Columbia, USA., Ndimbii J; Research, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya., Masaba R; Research, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya., Denoeud-Ndam L; Research, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland., Petnga SJ; Research, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Yaoundé, Cameroon., Ouma M; Research, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya., Kuate A; National Tuberculosis Control Program, Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon., Okomo G; County Government of Homa Bay, Department of Health, Ministry of Health, Homa Bay, Kenya., Simo L; Program, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Yaoundé, Cameroon., Yara D; Research, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya., Tiam A; Research, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Washington, District of Columbia, USA., Tchounga B; Research, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Yaoundé, Cameroon btchounga@pedaids.org.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	BMJ open respiratory research [BMJ Open Respir Res] 2024 Jul 29; Vol. 11 (1). Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 29.
DOI:	10.1136/bmjresp-2023-001727
Abstrakt:	Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a setback to the gains achieved in tuberculosis (TB) control by impairing TB diagnosis, delaying treatment initiation and aggravating TB deaths. This study explored the effect of COVID-19 on paediatric TB services provided through the Catalysing Paediatric TB Innovations (CaP-TB) project among caregivers of children receiving TB services and healthcare workers (HCWs) providing TB services in Cameroon and Kenya. Methods: From March to September 2021, in-depth interviews (44) were conducted with caregivers whose children under 5 years had gone through TB services and programme managers (10) overseeing the CaP-TB project. Focus group discussions were conducted with HCWs (07) and community health workers (04) supporting TB care services. Transcripts were coded and analysed by using MAXQDA V.12. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused fear and anxiety among HCWs and caregivers. This fear was motivated by stigma related to COVID-19 and affected the ability to screen patients for TB due to the similarity of symptoms with COVID-19. The health-seeking behaviour of patients was affected, as many caregivers avoided hospitals and those accessing the facilities concealed their sickness due to fear of testing positive or being vaccinated. In addition, COVID-19 mitigation strategies implemented by both government and health facilities to curb the spread of the virus limited patient access to paediatric healthcare services. These included temporary closure of health facilities due to COVID-19 infections among staff, transfer of services to other spaces, spacing out patient appointments and reduced time spent with patients. Conclusions: The outbreak of COVID-19 has induced fear and stigma that affected patients' health-seeking behaviour and provider attitudes towards paediatric TB service delivery. In addition, facility and governmental measures put in place to mitigate COVID-19 impact negatively affected paediatric service delivery. Training for health personnel, timely provision of personal protective equipments and appropriate communication strategies could help mitigate COVID-19 impact on paediatric TB service delivery. Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared. (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
Externí odkaz:	Zobrazit plný text záznamu