Community Perception of Tuberculosis Management Program in Suburban Surabaya: A Qualitative Study

Tuberculosis (TB) is still one of the main infectious diseases in Indonesia. The national
program, Directly Observed Treatment short course (DOTS), that began in 2014 is
unable to deal with TB cases comprehensively. The community has an important role
in TB management because they directly intersect with patients and public health.
The aim of this study is to explore the condition of the TB management program. A
descriptive qualitative study was conducted in three sub-districts with high cases of
TB. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 25 participants drawn from the
suburban TB task force, community health volunteer groups, Community health Nurses,
and subdistrict officers. Results reveal four themes which affect the implementation of
TB management programmes: volunteer shortage, do for humanitarian intention, the
myth and stigma, providing social and economic support. In conclusion, community-
based TB management needs to be improve in the availability of budget, staff, training
and resources while maintaining the ongoing work of the TB task force team.