Financial challenges to access tuberculosis treatment in Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the financial challenges that patients have to deal with to access the Tuberculosis (TB) Care Reference Centers in Ribeirão Preto. Adjustments were made to the Primary Care Assessment (PCAT) and an opinion poll was made with one-hundred patients following treatment and 16 health care professionals working at TB Reference Centers in Ribeirão Preto. Anova, Kruskall Wallis and chi-square tests were used. Most patients were males and most health care professionals were female. Differences were found between Centers C and A, in that Center C (p=0.028) offers a bus pass, and in A (p=0.010) patients paid for their own transportation. The indicator medical appointment in 24 hours showed a satisfactory level. There were disagreements between the reports from patients and health professionals as to the center offering the bus pass. Patients face challenges in their treatment, such as costs with transportation or being late for work, which result in losses in the family income.