CHAPTER II - HEALTH SERVICES <<Back
 
b) Community Participation & Role of Voluntary Organizations
 
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AU : Dick J & Schoeman JH
TI : Tuberculosis in the community: 2. The perceptions of members of a tuberculosis health team toward a voluntary health worker programme
SO : TUBERCLE & LUNG DIS 1996, 77, 380-83
DT : Per
AB :

The setting is a voluntary health worker programme, in the Western Cape South Africa, utilizing volunteers to administer directly observed therapy to TB patients. This study describes the perceptions of health team members regarding the voluntary community health worker project. A qualitative, participatory research study utilizing focus groups.

TB was perceived by the health team to be a stigmatized disease causing some patients to be reluctant to be associated with the TB control programme. Despite the project’s dedicated approach to case-holding volunteers expressed the need to develop skills in providing more comprehensive care. The volunteers appear to administer a more personalized service to TB patients and can bridge the gap between TB patients and the health agency. Sustained evaluation and support seem to be a vital tool in integrating a volunteer project into a health team approach. Its effectiveness appears to depend to a large degree on the people involved.

KEY WORDS: VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION; SOCIAL AWARENESS; HEALTH TEAM; HEALTH WORKER; SOUTH AFRICA.
 
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