Original Research

Availability of tuberculosis infection control plans at rural hospitals of Vhembe district, Limpopo Province of South Africa

Takalani G. Tshitangano, Sonto M. Maputle, Lizzy M. Netshikweta
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine | Vol 5, No 1 | a480 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v5i1.480 | © 2013 Takalani G. Tshitangano, Sonto M. Maputle, Lizzy M. Netshikweta | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 13 August 2012 | Published: 26 June 2013

About the author(s)

Takalani G. Tshitangano, Department of Public Health, University of Venda, South Africa
Sonto M. Maputle, Department of Advanced Nursing Science, University of Venda, South Africa
Lizzy M. Netshikweta, Department of Advanced Nursing Science, University of Venda, South Africa

Abstract

Background: In Limpopo province the rate of new tuberculosis (TB) cases increase daily.The Infection Control (IC) plan is one of the essential actions for TB IC. This study aimed to establish the availability of these plans at health care facilities.

Objectives: The objectives were to explore and describe the awareness and knowledge of health care workers (HCWs) of the availability and content of TB IC plan; and to identity the role of infection control committees from the perspective of HCWs.

Method: A qualitative approach using a cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted. The target population was all HCWs from the seven hospitals of Vhembe district. A purposive sampling approach was used to select 57 participants. The approval to conduct this study was obtained from the relevant authorities and participants. Data was collected through seven focus group discussions comprising five to 10 members. An unstructured discussion guide was used to collect data, and an open-coding method was used to analyse the data. Lincoln and Guba’s criteria ensured trustworthiness of the study findings.

Results: Findings revealed that HCWs were not aware of the availability and the information contained in the TB IC plans. No person was designated as TB IC officer at hospital level. There was lack of a TB IC Committee and teams as well as ineffective utilisation of those that did exist.

Conclusions: It was concluded that if the TB IC plans are not available at health care facilities,then the TB IC practices implemented by HCWs vary, resulting in TB nosocomial infection transmission. It was recommended that the World Health Organisation’s TB IC plans be adopted and implemented in Vhembe district.


Keywords

TB infection control plans; TB infection control committee; TB infection control nurse

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Crossref Citations

1. Caring for Tuberculosis Patients: Understanding the Plight of Nurses at a Regional Hospital in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Hulisani Matakanye, Dorah U. Ramathuba, Augustine K. Tugli
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health  vol: 16  issue: 24  first page: 4977  year: 2019  
doi: 10.3390/ijerph16244977