Abstract Objective: The aim of this work was to evaluate the Primary Health Care service perfor-
mance in National Tuberculosis Control Program in Qalyubia Governorate.
Methods: The studied area (Qalyubia Governorate) includes 8 health territories (each contains 5
primary care units/centers).
A questionnaire based on 6 parameters was used to evaluate the PHC system performance: I –
Physicians with basic knowledge about TB (causative agent, methods of spread, clinical picture,
essential steps in investigations: X-ray and sputum smear), II – Facilities for primary investigation
(sputum examination and chest X-ray), III – Communication with the central health authorities or
a TB specialist, IV – Proper recording systems needed for proper patient management and follow
up, V – Follow up schedules are available for the detected patients, VI – Have a role in community
education about the disease. The data obtained were tabulated and statistically analyzed.
Results: Studied area included 8 health territories and 40 primary care units (35% were urban
and 65% rural) with one physician in each unit. The mean percent of the correct answers of the
basic knowledge score was 48.2% (range = 18%–100%), higher in urban units physicians than
rural units physicians, with lack of proper laboratory (for sputum analysis) or X-ray apparatus.
Communication with central health authorities in urban areas was higher than rural areas
(65.4% versus 57.1%). Case recording was lower in urban than rural areas (42.9% versus
46.2%). Patient follow up after referral to central health units was higher in rural than urban areas
(11.5% versus 7.1%). Participation of community education was 78.6% in urban units and 76.9%
in rural units. |
