Thesis (M. Cur.) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / The present study presents data about the factors that are affecting the implementation of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme by the professional nurses in the Mogalakwena Municipality of the Waterberg District in the Limpopo Province. Despite the intervention by the then Waterberg District Department of Health and Social Development through continual training and workshops of professional nurses in respect of the NTCP, there are still more challenges observed in terms of TB management. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to identify and describe the factors that are affecting the implementation of the NTCP and the findings may be utilised to describe the strategies to increase TB cure rate in the Mogalakwena Municipality of the Waterberg District. Research Methodology A quantitative research approach was used to conduct this study. One hundred and thirty one professional nurses employed at 28 clinics of the Mogalakwena Municipality were selected to participate in the study. The researcher distributed the questionnaires at the clinics. A structured questionnaire with both open and closed-ended questions was administered. The questionnaire was pretested in the Mahwelereng Local Area which did not form part of the main study. Results Of the 131 respondents, 33.6% were the largest age group of between 40 – 50 years followed by 24.4% who were older than 50 years in contrast with the smallest age group of 18 – 28 years that comprised 18.3% of the population. Sixteen per cent of the respondents were male while 84.0% were female. The findings show that 83.2% of respondents held a diploma in nursing while 16.8% had a degree in nursing. The findings indicate that 98.4% of the respondents were reported to be having knowledge about TB while 1.6% reported not having knowledge. The findings v indicate that 98.4% of the respondents had knowledge about TB suspect screening according to the NTCP in contrast with 1.6% of the participants who did not have knowledge about TB screening. About 95.4% of the respondents reported tracing of TB defaulters while 4.6% of the respondents reported that TB defaulters were not traced. Sixty point three per cent 63.3% of the respondents thought that a negative attitude of professional nurses was the main cause of poor implementation of the NTCP while 30.5% of them disagreed with the statement. Conclusion Respondents demonstrated non-compliance to the implementation of the NTCP, ignorance to acquire skills and negative attitude towards the programme that was consistently significant with other similar studies. The study recommends an updated training programme of all TB trained nurses, as well as values clarification about the importance of the implementation of the NTCP in the management of the TB disease.

Thesis (MSc (Biomedical Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / According to the Namibia National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTCP) report of 2008, Namibia has one of the highest TB infection rates in the world with a case notification rate of 748/100,000. Rapid, specific and sensitive diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is needed for correct TB patient management. One of the aims of this study was thus to compare direct microscopy with two rapid molecular diagnostic tools (viz. GeneXpert MTB/RIF and Hain Genotype® MTBDR plus assay) for the identification of MTB from samples collected from the Khomas Region, Windhoek, Namibia. Only patients with positive TB sputum collected at the clinics and health facilities in the Khomas Region, Windhoek were eligible for the study. Three hundred and eighty-four samples were confirmed acid-fast positive by utilising the auramine staining method. The rifampicin (RIF) resistance profile detected by both molecular techniques was then compared for characterisation of the samples as drug resistant. Lastly, participants completed a survey, which included questions related to demographic and epidemiological data. Demographic data included patient age, gender, region of residence and history of treatment. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire and was captured in an Excel spreadsheet. It was then imported into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25 for data analysis. A memorandum of understanding was also signed with the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) to obtain permission to use their samples and the equipment at their site.