TUBERCULOSIS IN THE COMMUNITY .2. THE PERCEPTIONS OF MEMBERS OF A TUBERCULOSIS HEALTH TEAM TOWARDS A VOLUNTARY HEALTH WORKER PROGRAM

Setting: A voluntary community health worker programme, in the Western Cape, South Africa, utilizing volunteers to administer directly obser ved therapy to tuberculosis (TB) patients. Objective: This study descr ibes the perceptions of health team members regarding the voluntary co mmunity health worker project. Design: A qualitative, participatory re search study utilizing focus groups. Results: TB was perceived by the health team to be a stigmatized disease causing some patients to be re luctant to be associated with the TB control programme. Despite the pr oject's dedicated approach to case-holding, volunteers expressed the n eed to develop skills in providing more comprehensive care. The volunt eers appear to administer a more personalized service to TB patients a nd can bridge the gap between TB patients and the health agency. Concl usion: Sustained evaluation and support seem to be a vital tool in int egrating a volunteer;project into a health team approach. Its effectiv eness appears to depend to a large degree on the people involved.