A study of compliance of paediatric patients attending for tuberculosis treatment in the National Capital District

The treatment protocol for tuberculosis used in Papua New Guinea has been shown in several studies to be highly effective if there is good compliance. A retrospective study of the compliance of 100 children diagnosed as having tuberculosis and treated at Port Moresby General Hospital between August 1980 and July 1981 was carried out. 84% of the children completed the initial 2 months "A" treatment in hospital and only 25% of the children completed the subsequent 16 months of "B" treatment. Patients from rural areas had rather lower compliance rates than those from urban areas. Failure to comply with the treatment protocol is the most likely cause of treatment failure in the National Capital District. Therefore, greater emphasis must be given to educating parents about the importance of tuberculosis treatment both in hospital and in the clinics.