Prince A Adu1,2, Jerry M Spiegel3, Annalee Yassi1. 1. School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1ZE, Canada. 2. British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4R4, Canada. 3. School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1ZE, Canada. jerry.speigel@ubc.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Notwithstanding extensive general discussion of the effects of upstream forces on health, there has been limited empirical examination, let alone systematic evidence documenting policy responses to such pathways in the area of tuberculosis (TB) management and control. Our study aimed to gain insight into how macro level drivers of TB are perceived by key stakeholders involved in TB management and control in a high-endemic country, and to assess how such concerns are being addressed in policy initiatives in this setting. South Africa was chosen for this case study due to our team's long-standing collaborations there, its very high burden of TB, and its introduction of a strategic plan to combat this disease. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 key informants who were purposively selected for their knowledge and expertise of TB in South Africa. South Africa's National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs 2017-2022 was then reviewed to examine how identified themes from the interviews were reflected in this policy document. RESULTS: A history of colonization, the migrant labour system, economic inequality, poor shelter, health system challenges including TB governance, the HIV epidemic, and pertinent socio-cultural factors were all perceived to be major drivers of the epidemic. Although South Africa's current National Strategic Plan makes a firm discursive commitment to addressing the structural or macro-level drivers of TB, our analysis revealed that this commitment was not clearly reflected in projected budgetary allocations. CONCLUSION: As in many other high burden settings, macro-level drivers of TB are widely recognized. Nonetheless, while micro-level (biomedical and clinical) measures, such as improving diagnostic procedures and investment in more efficacious drugs, are being (and well should be) implemented, our findings showed that macro-level drivers of TB are underrepresented in budgeting allocations for initiatives to combat this disease. Although it could be argued that structural drivers that undermine health-promoting actions are beyond the purview of the health sector itself, we argue that strategic plans to combat TB in high burden settings need more attention to directly considering such drivers to prompt the necessary changes and reduce the burden of this and other such diseases.
BACKGROUND: Notwithstanding extensive general discussion of the effects of upstream forces on health, there has been limited empirical examination, let alone systematic evidence documenting policy responses to such pathways in the area of tuberculosis (TB) management and control. Our study aimed to gain insight into how macro level drivers of TB are perceived by key stakeholders involved in TB management and control in a high-endemic country, and to assess how such concerns are being addressed in policy initiatives in this setting. South Africa was chosen for this case study due to our team's long-standing collaborations there, its very high burden of TB, and its introduction of a strategic plan to combat this disease. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 key informants who were purposively selected for their knowledge and expertise of TB in South Africa. South Africa's National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs 2017-2022 was then reviewed to examine how identified themes from the interviews were reflected in this policy document. RESULTS: A history of colonization, the migrant labour system, economic inequality, poor shelter, health system challenges including TB governance, the HIV epidemic, and pertinent socio-cultural factors were all perceived to be major drivers of the epidemic. Although South Africa's current National Strategic Plan makes a firm discursive commitment to addressing the structural or macro-level drivers of TB, our analysis revealed that this commitment was not clearly reflected in projected budgetary allocations. CONCLUSION: As in many other high burden settings, macro-level drivers of TB are widely recognized. Nonetheless, while micro-level (biomedical and clinical) measures, such as improving diagnostic procedures and investment in more efficacious drugs, are being (and well should be) implemented, our findings showed that macro-level drivers of TB are underrepresented in budgeting allocations for initiatives to combat this disease. Although it could be argued that structural drivers that undermine health-promoting actions are beyond the purview of the health sector itself, we argue that strategic plans to combat TB in high burden settings need more attention to directly considering such drivers to prompt the necessary changes and reduce the burden of this and other such diseases.
Entities:
Keywords:
Health system; Perception; South Africa; Structural determinants; Tuberculosis
Authors: Anne Lia Cremers; Myrthe Manon de Laat; Nathan Kapata; Rene Gerrets; Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch; Martin Peter Grobusch Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-03-25 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Annalee Yassi; Lyndsay Michelle O'Hara; Michelle C Engelbrecht; Kerry Uebel; Letshego Elizabeth Nophale; Elizabeth Ann Bryce; Jane A Buxton; Jacob Siegel; Jerry Malcolm Spiegel Journal: Glob Health Action Date: 2014-05-02 Impact factor: 2.640