BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) remains the leading infectious cause of adult mortality, despite 60 years of effective chemotherapy. One reason for this is the problem caused by the interruption and failure of treatment, which usually are related to non-adherence. The reasons for non-adherence to TB treatment are multifaceted, ranging from the personalities of the patients to the social and economic environment. In South Africa, the most common problems have been shown to be the erratic way in which the treatment is taken, and not patients absconding from the treatment program. There is a strong suspicion that the disability grants issued to TB patients are acting as a disincentive to finish anti-tuberculosis medication. TB is a stigmatised disease and the lack of support from health workers, family and friends, as well as the length of the treatment period, all contribute to the temptation to discontinue TB therapy. This research was undertaken in Van Wyksvlei, a sub-economic area of Wellington. Wellington is part of the Drakenstein Municipality in the Western Cape, South Africa and is mainly an agricultural area. The aim of the study was to explore and describe the reasons why patients in the Wellington area do not complete their TB treatment, and then to make recommendations to improve adherence.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.