Actions of the community health agent in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis

Authors

  • Dândara Nayara Azevêdo Dantas
  • Marcela Paulino Moreira da Silva
  • Déborah Raquel Carvalho de Oliveira
  • Bertha Cruz Enders
  • Ramon Evangelista dos Anjos Paiva
  • Ricardo Alexandre Arcêncio

Keywords:

Primary Health Care, Community Health Aides, Tuberculosis, Pulmonary.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the actions of the community health agent in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in the primary care health. A descriptive quantitative study was conducted from July to December 2009, with 110 community health agents in Natal, and it was used a questionnaire from the Primary Care Assessment Tool. The descriptive analysis of the data indicated that 62, 7% of the agents investigated individuals with cough symptoms during their home visits; 57,3% frequently instructed the Respiratory Symptomatic individuals to collect the sputum; 60% rarely had difficulty in convincing individuals to collect sputum and 44,5% of the health units problems with the sputum collection and 44,5% of the health units had a specific place to store the material. It is so concluded that the majority of the agents conduct the diagnostic activities. However, they face system difficulties that can interfere in the early diagnosis of the disease and, therefore, its control.

Published

2011-12-12

How to Cite

Dantas, D. N. A., Silva, M. P. M. da, Oliveira, D. R. C. de, Enders, B. C., Paiva, R. E. dos A., & Arcêncio, R. A. (2011). Actions of the community health agent in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. Rev Rene, 12. Retrieved from http://periodicos.ufc.br/rene/article/view/4396

Issue

Section

Research Article

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