EVALUATION OF ACTIVE CASE FINDINGS AS TUBERCULOSIS CASES DETECTION TOOL AT ST. MARY’S HEALTH CENTER INKISERIAN TOWN

Abstract

uberculosis is a highly contagious disease accounting for a high number of deaths in the developing countries; its control can be effectively achieved if individuals with the disease receive adequate and timely treatment. The objective of this study will be to determine the factors associated with ACF as a screening tool for TB detection cases inSt. Mary’s Health Center in Kiserian. A cross sectional study was conducted on patients accessing treatment St. Mary’s Health Centre. Data was collected from a sample of 91 respondents and 19health workers who filled the various questionnaires. The study design was cross sectional design where patients were given questionnaires as they come to the health Centre. The collected data was coded, entered and analyzed using the SPSS version 17 computer software. Data was presented using tables to make them reader friendly and all ethical issues related to this study was addressed by maintaining high level confidentiality of the information volunteered by the respondents. The finding of the study revealed that the TB patients /respondents who are affected are mostly male, most are married and with low study level with almost half being primary level but accept and recommend the use of ACF screening tool while least percent (5%) of the respondents who are university level still fear the use of ACF screening tool because privacy and confidentiality of the results. The study also found out that the ACF screening tool is the most effective in screening TB in the research health centre with a recommendation that the government should enhance the capacity of the health workers to fully understand the use of ACF screening tool. It is also recommended that the government to fund and promote other health centers to acquire ACF screening tool to control spread and transmission of TB in Kajiado West Sub County.