ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is evidence that female gender is associated with reduced likelihood of tuberculosis diagnosis and successful treatment. This study aimed to characterize gender-related barriers to tuberculosis control in Peruvian shantytowns. METHODS: We investigated attitudes and experiences relating gender to tuberculosis using the grounded theory approach to describe beliefs amongst key tuberculosis control stakeholders. These issues were explored in 22 semi-structured interviews and in four focus group discussions with 26 tuberculosis patients and 17 healthcare workers. RESULTS: We found that the tuberculosis program was perceived not to be gender discriminatory and provided equal tuberculosis diagnostic and treatment care to men and women. This contrasted with stereotypical gender roles in the broader community context and a commonly expressed belief amongst patients and healthcare workers that female health inherently has a lower priority than male health. This belief was principally associated with men's predominant role in the household economy and limited employment for women in this setting. Women were also generally reported to experience the adverse psychosocial and economic consequences of tuberculosis diagnosis more than men. CONCLUSIONS: There was a common perception that women's tuberculosis care was of secondary importance to that of men. This reflected societal gender values and occurred despite apparent gender equality in care provision. The greatest opportunities for improving women's access to tuberculosis care appear to be in improving social, political and economic structures, more than tuberculosis program modification.
Subject(s)
Health Services Accessibility , Poverty Areas , Sexism , Tuberculosis/prevention & control , Women's Health , Adult , Female , Focus Groups , Gender Identity , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , Middle Aged , Peru , Qualitative Research , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the efficacy Eucalyptus teritocornis ethanoloic leaf extract in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infected skin wound in Albino Spraque Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus). Design: Experimental design: four (4) treatment groups with 5 rats each. Population: Twenty (20) Albino Spraque Dawley rats of the same age, sex and weight (+/-20 grams) were randomly distributed into 4 treatment groups. Intervention: Each group was assigned, to either E. tereticornis ethanol extract, 2 percent Mupirocin cream. Plain normal saline solution and no treatment. Outcome measures: Cure rate, rate of epithelialization, Rate of granulation, Scar formation and Bacterial growth in culture Results: The study revealed a 100 percent cure rate for the E. tereticornis extract treated group 7 days post treatment which is clinically higher than the 40 percent cure rate of the no treatment group, 60 percent cure rate of the Plain NSS group and 80 percent cure rate of the 2 percent. Mupirocin cream treated group. On the histologic findings, the rate of epitheliazation and rate of granulation of tissue was found to be comparable in the E. tereticornis group and 2 percent Mupirocin cream group and was significantly higher than the NSS group and no treatment group. Growth of bacterial culture and scar formation were found not be statistically significant. Conclusion: Based on the data, there is no sufficient evidence to suggest that E. Tereticornis ethanolic leaf extract is efficacious in the treatment of S. aureus infected wound lesions, however, the rate of epithelialization and granulation of tissue was found to be statistically higher in the E. tereticornis group which is comparable to the rate of epitheliazation and granulation of tissue of the 2 percent Mupirocin group.
