The Role of the Tuberculosis (TB) Community in Detecting TB Suspects in Probolinggo Regency, East Java

Abstract

Indonesia Indonesia is in the third rank of countries with the highest tuberculosis (TB) globally, with TB case detection still below 70%. The strategy in the TB control program to increase TB case detection is community partnership through the TB community. However, the role of this community in detecting TB suspects has never been reported. This study aimed to determine the role of the TB community in detecting TB suspects in the Probolinggo Regency. This research is descriptive qualitative research. The population was all TB community members is 130 people. The sample was a purposive sampling method, consideration until it met the data saturation, namely 29 respondents. The data were collected employing interviewed sheets, then analyzed with thematic content. Data triangulation by Head of Infectious Diseases, the Probolinggo Regency Health and five people from each TB community at Puskesmas. From the interviews, it was found that 23 people (79%) could not invite TB suspects to undergo examination, and 25 people (86%) had conducted counselling but were still unable to explain and convince the community of the importance of medical examinations for TB suspects. It is necessary to increase the capacity of TB community members to improve their roles in detecting TB cases.