Self-care in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis treated at the “San Rafael” Type C Health Center

Abstract

Introduction: pulmonary tuberculosis has become one of the main health problems in recent years due to its ease of transmission and the poor living conditions of people who suffer from it. Objective: identify risk factors that prevent adequate development in the self-care of tuberculosis patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who receive treatment at the Nueva San Rafael Health Center in the city of Esmeraldas, Ecuador. Method: cross-sectional research, with a mixed nature. The universe studied was 30 patients and the sample included 100% of them. The variables studied were: age, sex, time with pulmonary tuberculosis, level of education, paid employment, consumption of harmful substances and ease of the patient taking medication at the health unit. Results: patients aged between 40 and 64 years and male predominated. 77% of the patients have been suffering from the disease for between 1 and 2 months, with a primary level of education, 83% were unemployed, 46% frequently drank alcohol, 27% smoked, 10% used drugs and only 17% did not use any type of substance. 50% of the patients stated that it was very difficult to acquire medication at the health unit, 33% said it was medium difficult, and 17% stated that it was medium easy. Conclusions: the research allows us to group a series of scientific criteria on the risk factors that influence inadequate self-care in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, making it necessary to use actions focused on education, prevention and promotion.