Background: There are numerous public health and clinical consequences of incomplete TB treatment. The patients develop resistance to first line ATT drugs. Treatment with second-line drugs are less successful and more toxic. Relapse and treatment failure are also an important problem because patients can harbor drug resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli. Objective: To explore the patients' perspective about factors associated with loss to follow up, relapse and treatment failure in tuberculosis patients. Materials and Methods: This phenomenological study was conducted on 12 patients registered at DOTS centers, U.T. Chandigarh. A pre validated semi structured interview guide was used to collect the data. In-depth interviews were conducted. Audio recording was done following permission from the participants. Principle of redundancy was followed for data collection. Results: Based on patients' verbatim, 12 themes were formulated. These were Factors contributing to relapse, Factors contributing to loss to follow up, Factors contributing to relapse, Physical problems related to disease conditions, Emotional stress, Stigma related to disease, Economic challenges, Job related challenges, Family support, Health care system related challenges, Attitude of DOTS Providers, Expectations of National Programme. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated many factors responsible for loss to follow up, treatment failure and relapse in TB patients. Although medicines are provided free of cost but side effects of medicines and pills burden can be a disabling factor in completion of treatment. In congruence with this, low socio-economic status, stigma related to disease condition, family liabilities, awareness issues, economic challenges, burden of losing income from work contributes to non-compliance. Occupational exposure of irritants, addictions, imbalanced diet, non compliance to treatment contributes treatment failure and relapse of disease.
Tuberculosis, Loss to follow up, Relapse, Treatment failure, Care givers, DOTS providers
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