Abstract
Backround. There is a tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in Angola that has been getting worse for more than a decade despite the active implementation of the DOTS strategy. The aim of this study was to directly interrogate health care workers involved in TB control on what they consider to be the drivers of the TB epidemic in Angola.
Methods. Twenty four in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with medical staff working in this field in the provinces of Luanda and Benguela.
Results. The healthcare professionals see the migrant working poor as a particular problem for the control of TB. These migrants are constructed as “Rural People” and are seen as non-compliant and late-presenting. This is a stigmatised and marginal group contending with the additional stigma associated with TB infection. The healthcare professionals interviewed also see the interruption of treatment and self-medication generally as a better explanation for the TB epidemic than urbanisation or lack of medication.
Conclusions. The local narrative is in contrast to previous explanations used elsewhere in the developing world. To be effective policy must recognise the local issues of the migrant workforce, interruption of treatment and the stigma associated with TB in Angola.
Key words
Tuberculosis
Migrants
Angola
Qualitative research
Africa
© 2018, Oxford University Press. This is an author produced version of a paper published in JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self- archiving policy. The final published version (version of record) is available online at the link below. Some minor differences between this version and the final published version may remain. We suggest you refer to the final published version should you wish to cite from it.
Methods. Twenty four in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with medical staff working in this field in the provinces of Luanda and Benguela.
Results. The healthcare professionals see the migrant working poor as a particular problem for the control of TB. These migrants are constructed as “Rural People” and are seen as non-compliant and late-presenting. This is a stigmatised and marginal group contending with the additional stigma associated with TB infection. The healthcare professionals interviewed also see the interruption of treatment and self-medication generally as a better explanation for the TB epidemic than urbanisation or lack of medication.
Conclusions. The local narrative is in contrast to previous explanations used elsewhere in the developing world. To be effective policy must recognise the local issues of the migrant workforce, interruption of treatment and the stigma associated with TB in Angola.
Key words
Tuberculosis
Migrants
Angola
Qualitative research
Africa
© 2018, Oxford University Press. This is an author produced version of a paper published in JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self- archiving policy. The final published version (version of record) is available online at the link below. Some minor differences between this version and the final published version may remain. We suggest you refer to the final published version should you wish to cite from it.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 22 |
| Journal | Journal of public health (Oxford, England) |
| Early online date | 23 Nov 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 23 Nov 2017 |
Keywords
- Tuberculosis
- Migrants
- Qualitative Research
- Africa