Patient and provider perceptions of the relationship between alcohol use and TB and readiness for treatment: a qualitative study in South Africa
Background: Unhealthy alcohol use is widespread in South Africa and has been linked to tuberculosis (TB) disease and poor treatment outcomes. This study used qualitative methods to explore the relationship between TB and alcohol use during TB treatment. Methods: Focus group discussions (FGDs) were c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2024
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/96550 |
| _version_ | 1848766169399427072 |
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| author | Kulkarni, S. Weber, S.E. Buys, C. Lambrechts, T. Myers, Bronwyn Drainoni, M.L. Jacobson, K.R. Theron, D. Carney, T. |
| author_facet | Kulkarni, S. Weber, S.E. Buys, C. Lambrechts, T. Myers, Bronwyn Drainoni, M.L. Jacobson, K.R. Theron, D. Carney, T. |
| author_sort | Kulkarni, S. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: Unhealthy alcohol use is widespread in South Africa and has been linked to tuberculosis (TB) disease and poor treatment outcomes. This study used qualitative methods to explore the relationship between TB and alcohol use during TB treatment. Methods: Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 34 participants who had previous or current drug-susceptible TB and self-reported current alcohol use. Eight interviews were conducted with healthcare workers who provide TB services in Worcester, South Africa. Results: In this rural setting, heavy episodic drinking is normalized and perceived to be related to TB transmission and decreased adherence to TB medication. Both healthcare workers and FGD participants recommended the introduction of universal screening, brief interventions, and referral to specialized care for unhealthy alcohol use. However, participants also discussed barriers to the provision of these services, such as limited awareness of the link between alcohol and TB. Healthcare workers also specified resource constraints, while FGD participants or patients mentioned widespread stigma towards people with alcohol concerns. Both FGD participants and health providers would benefit from education on the relationship between TB and unhealthy alcohol use and had specific recommendations about interventions for alcohol use reduction. Healthcare workers also suggested that community health worker-delivered interventions could support access to and engagement in both TB and alcohol-related services. Conclusion: Findings support strengthening accessible, specialized services for the identification and provision of interventions and psychosocial services for unhealthy alcohol use among those with TB. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:46:52Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-96550 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:46:52Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-965502025-01-17T04:52:48Z Patient and provider perceptions of the relationship between alcohol use and TB and readiness for treatment: a qualitative study in South Africa Kulkarni, S. Weber, S.E. Buys, C. Lambrechts, T. Myers, Bronwyn Drainoni, M.L. Jacobson, K.R. Theron, D. Carney, T. Alcohol Behavior change Healthcare systems South Africa Tuberculosis Humans South Africa Male Female Focus Groups Adult Qualitative Research Middle Aged Tuberculosis Alcohol Drinking Attitude of Health Personnel Patient Acceptance of Health Care Young Adult Health Personnel Humans Tuberculosis Focus Groups Attitude of Health Personnel Alcohol Drinking Qualitative Research Adult Middle Aged Health Personnel Patient Acceptance of Health Care South Africa Female Male Young Adult Background: Unhealthy alcohol use is widespread in South Africa and has been linked to tuberculosis (TB) disease and poor treatment outcomes. This study used qualitative methods to explore the relationship between TB and alcohol use during TB treatment. Methods: Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 34 participants who had previous or current drug-susceptible TB and self-reported current alcohol use. Eight interviews were conducted with healthcare workers who provide TB services in Worcester, South Africa. Results: In this rural setting, heavy episodic drinking is normalized and perceived to be related to TB transmission and decreased adherence to TB medication. Both healthcare workers and FGD participants recommended the introduction of universal screening, brief interventions, and referral to specialized care for unhealthy alcohol use. However, participants also discussed barriers to the provision of these services, such as limited awareness of the link between alcohol and TB. Healthcare workers also specified resource constraints, while FGD participants or patients mentioned widespread stigma towards people with alcohol concerns. Both FGD participants and health providers would benefit from education on the relationship between TB and unhealthy alcohol use and had specific recommendations about interventions for alcohol use reduction. Healthcare workers also suggested that community health worker-delivered interventions could support access to and engagement in both TB and alcohol-related services. Conclusion: Findings support strengthening accessible, specialized services for the identification and provision of interventions and psychosocial services for unhealthy alcohol use among those with TB. 2024 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/96550 10.1186/s12889-024-19570-y eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Alcohol Behavior change Healthcare systems South Africa Tuberculosis Humans South Africa Male Female Focus Groups Adult Qualitative Research Middle Aged Tuberculosis Alcohol Drinking Attitude of Health Personnel Patient Acceptance of Health Care Young Adult Health Personnel Humans Tuberculosis Focus Groups Attitude of Health Personnel Alcohol Drinking Qualitative Research Adult Middle Aged Health Personnel Patient Acceptance of Health Care South Africa Female Male Young Adult Kulkarni, S. Weber, S.E. Buys, C. Lambrechts, T. Myers, Bronwyn Drainoni, M.L. Jacobson, K.R. Theron, D. Carney, T. Patient and provider perceptions of the relationship between alcohol use and TB and readiness for treatment: a qualitative study in South Africa |
| title | Patient and provider perceptions of the relationship between alcohol use and TB and readiness for treatment: a qualitative study in South Africa |
| title_full | Patient and provider perceptions of the relationship between alcohol use and TB and readiness for treatment: a qualitative study in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Patient and provider perceptions of the relationship between alcohol use and TB and readiness for treatment: a qualitative study in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patient and provider perceptions of the relationship between alcohol use and TB and readiness for treatment: a qualitative study in South Africa |
| title_short | Patient and provider perceptions of the relationship between alcohol use and TB and readiness for treatment: a qualitative study in South Africa |
| title_sort | patient and provider perceptions of the relationship between alcohol use and tb and readiness for treatment: a qualitative study in south africa |
| topic | Alcohol Behavior change Healthcare systems South Africa Tuberculosis Humans South Africa Male Female Focus Groups Adult Qualitative Research Middle Aged Tuberculosis Alcohol Drinking Attitude of Health Personnel Patient Acceptance of Health Care Young Adult Health Personnel Humans Tuberculosis Focus Groups Attitude of Health Personnel Alcohol Drinking Qualitative Research Adult Middle Aged Health Personnel Patient Acceptance of Health Care South Africa Female Male Young Adult |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/96550 |