Abstract

ARMAS PEREZ, Luisa; PEREZ CHACON, Denis; CASTRO PERAZA, Marta  and  SANCHEZ VALDES, Lizet. Anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy in Cuba in the period 1963-1970: experience systematization and further impact. Rev Cubana Med Trop [online]. 2009, vol.61, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3054.

INTRODUCTION: the National Program for the Control of Tuberculosis in Cuba adopted the internationally recommended anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy pattern of that time in the period 1963-1970, but its results were not duly documented in the national scientific literature. OBJECTIVES: to systematize the first pieces of experience in the anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy in Cuba from 1963 to 1970 and its further impact on the control of this disease. METHODS: a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to key informers in order to make the characterization of the anti-tuberculosis therapy pattern, its organization, strengths and weaknesses. The changes occurred afterwards were all identified through the review of the National Program for the Control of Tuberculosis documents. Data were introduced and analyzed with QSR Nvivo 7 software. Qualitative content analysis technique was used to classify the information into the deductive categories created on the basis of the questions. RESULTS: strengths were referred as the coverage of the National Program for the Control of Tuberculosis, the availability of resources and permanent supply of drugs, training of the health staff, free-of-charge treatment, standardization of procedures, group decision taking and economic support to patients and relatives. The main identified weaknesses were found in organization of the program, not fully standardized criteria for diagnosis and for health education, and non-optimal drug schedule. Therefore, the decisions allowed eliminating the weaknesses and achieving positive results in the control of disease. CONCLUSIONS: the systematization of experience in the anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy in the studied period made it possible to clear up and explain the reasons for further success, on the basis of the decisions made by the political and health authorities of the country.

Keywords : tuberculosis; control; program; chemotherapy; systematization; Cuba.

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