Title:
Access to Healthcare for Tuberculosis Patients in Nepal
Authors:
Mätzler, Julius
Place:
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Publisher:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute [etc.]
Year:
2022
PAGE:
vi, 40
Language:
En
Subject:
Health and Poverty
Keywords:
Access to healthcare; Tuberculosis; Nepal
Abstract:
Background: Tuberculosis ranks within the top ten causes of death in Nepal. With currently ca. 117.000 people living with active tuberculosis disease and almost half the population infected, tuberculosis poses a major threat to public health in Nepal. Providing unimpeded access to healthcare for tuberculosis patients sits therefore high on the ministry of health’s agenda. Methods: In this literature review Levesque et al.’s framework on patient centred access to healthcare was used to analyse and describe barriers to tuberculosis healthcare in Nepal, identify knowledge gaps and give recommendations to stakeholders on how to improve access to tuberculosis healthcare. Results: A lack of transportation infrastructure in the mountainous and rural areas of the country is impeding patients’ ability to reach healthcare facilities. The indirect costs of transportation, food, and accommodation near treatment centres as well as a loss of income during lengthy treatment regimens are making tuberculosis healthcare less affordable. While a lack of tuberculosis related knowledge is obstructing patients’ ability to perceive healthcare needs, institutional stigmas are making healthcare for tuberculosis patients less acceptable. There are still knowledge gaps around the topics of gender related barriers to tuberculosis health care and the occurrence of tuberculosis related catastrophic health expenditure. Conclusion: Although Nepal has managed to make progress in the reduction of tuberculosis cases in the past, patients are still facing numerous obstacles when trying to gain access to tuberculosis healthcare. These barriers must be addressed in the form of additional health literacy programs, the extension of active case finding and community-based DOTS programs as well as by actions to make healthcare more accessible to communities in rural parts of the country.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute , VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Country:
Nepal
Region:
South Asia
Training:
Master of International Health (MIH)
Category:
Research
Right:
@ 2022 Mätzler
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
LtVgC8wcGf_20230509154230842.pdf