High compliance in an ambulatory tuberculosis treatment programme in a rural community of Uganda.

The increasing numbers of clinical tuberculosis in Uganda, mainly due to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, means that it is no longer possible to hospitalise all TB patients, and the feasibility of ambulatory treatment needs to be assessed. A successful ambulatory TB treatment programme has been implemented in Rakai district. An annual cohort analysis for the period 1992-1996 showed that high completion rates were achieved. Of a total of 1659 TB patients, 92% of those surviving completed the prescribed treatment. Reasons for this high completion rate included: treating patients at one health unit, treating patients near their homes, training and supervision of health workers, and progressive use of short-course chemotherapy.