Lived experience of Filipino DOTS treatment partners

ABSTRACT

The Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) chemotheraphy as a means to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) has been proven in the past. However, emergence of more resistant and virulent strains increase throughout the years. As response to this trend, the World Health Organization (WHO) had started initiatives which prompted country-specific approaches to stopping TB. In the Philippines, one of the strategies adopted by the Department of Health (DOH) is to empower the community health worker (CHW) to be the treatment partner of a TB patient. The CHW, being the indigenous counterpart of the professional health manpower in communities, remain as an important factor that may affect the treatment process. The main purpose of this study was to explore, understand and describe the lived experience of TB-DOTS treatment partners using a phenomenological approach. A triangulation of methods for data gathering was used to capture the meaning of their experiences focus group discussions, key informat interviews, and observation. The experiences and practices of the CHW's were explored and documented for a period of six weeks solely devoted to field work. Shared meanings of their joy and pain, as well as their practices, are investigated. As stories were told, four themes have merged 1) battle against TB as a socioeconomic problem; 2) volunteerism 3) transcending role of the indigenous treatment partner, and; 4) spiritually at work. These led to several assertions which focus on the how and why CHWs make DOTS treatment regimen successful in achieving positive outcomes. This was evident through their constant communication, empowering practices and provision of social support to the patients.