| dc.description.abstract | Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a global public health challenge, with South Africa experiencing one of the highest TB incidence rates worldwide, exacerbated by its intertwined battle with and the emergence of drug-resistant TB strains. The study conducted in iBhayi Township, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, aimed to explore and describe the barriers that impact TB contact tracing and screening efforts from the perspective of healthcare providers, the Ward-based primary health care outreach teams (WBPHCOT). The study followed a qualitative descriptive exploratory design. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 purposively selected healthcare workers, including nurses and community healthcare workers. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Employing the Social- Ecological Model (SEM) as a theoretical framework, this research examined various levels of influence affecting TB control. At the individual level, healthcare providers faced multiple challenges such as insufficient training, emotional stress, limited knowledge, and language barriers, all of which hampered their ability to conduct effective contact tracing and testing. Interpersonally, issues like colleague stigma and patient mistrust strained relationships and hindered effective patient care. Organisational challenges include resource constraints, workplace pressures, and compensation issues that burden healthcare organisations and their staff. The absence of supportive policies and concerns related to data management added to these challenges. At the community level, stigma, resistance to screening efforts, lack of awareness, and the need for cultural sensitivity all played significant roles in shaping the environment in which healthcare providers operated. Structural and health systems challenges included poor resource allocation, strained healthcare systems, and inadequate public health messaging, policies, and regulations. The lack of accessibility to testing locations, especially in underserved areas, emerged as another critical structural obstacle. | en_US |
