A cross sectional study to assess the factors affecting the compliance to Anti-Tuberculosis treatment among defaulters under DOTS in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu 2015

OBJECTIVE To identify the factors affecting the compliance of tuberculosis patients who defaulted from Anti Tuberculosis Treatment (ATT) under DOTS (directly observed treatment short course) in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu -2015.DESIGN For this cross sectional study, 100 ATT defaulter through multi stage sampling was selected from Villupuram district.RESULTS In all 100 registered defaulters, 42 defaulted due to side effects to drugs,25 are due to migration and 24 felt better after initial treatment, 9 are due to other causes like accident etc.,.CONCLUSION Among the defaulters registered for this study, side effects for the drugs being the main cause and feeling better being the second main cause, Improved pre-treatment counseling and community based treatment provision may reduce the default rates. Efforts to retrieve treatment interrupters prior to default require strengthening with outreach worker.