Student Dissertation 3rd Batch

Challenges and Opportunities in Tuberculosis Control at Workplace

Abebual Zerihun Demilew

Abstract 

In the year 2004, BRAC peri-urban TB control program was launched in six regions of Dhaka, Bangladesh. With the objective of increasing case detection, BRAC extended its DOTS service in garment factories. By now, services are being implemented in 47 of the 278 garment factories found in Dhaka. In most garment factories employees work in cramped rooms with poor sanitation, and unventilated housing structures, creating ideal condition for TB infection. Poor socio-economic condition and lack of awareness in garment factories has affected the disease badly. Workers most often hide their illness, due to the fear of losing job and fear of isolation from colleagues. Program experiences from the field indicated strong challenges of accessing garment factories, gaining management commitment, easing workers’ fear of losing job, as a result overcoming low case detection. Consequently, the TB cases were left untreated and in turn the infection of the deadly disease continues to spread. 

 

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