DELAY OF DIAGNOSIS OF TUBERCULOSIS IN ELDERLY: ADDRESS OF THE MANAGING SUBJECTS

Brazilians aged 60 and over represent 19% (13,281) of all new TB cases reported, representing an incidence coefficient of 51 cases / 100,000 inhabitants.2-3 In a study on TB control, we identify the number of individuals affected by the population and the risk factors for older people who become more susceptible to TB treatment, requiring differentiated care and effective action by the health care network. According to the researched literature, there are two factors that contribute to the return of the diagnosis of TB, related to the user and health services. Regarding health services, the difficulty of access and the incapacity of professionals suspected of diagnosis also contribute to the delay in diagnosis.5 It is believed that besides the mentioned factors, the delayed diagnosis of TB in the elderly may also be related to the work aspects of managers, since there is some lack of knowledge of some managers about TB control actions and their attributions to the work. triggering these actions,6 aggravated by the non-recognition of this group as vulnerable to TB disease. The forecast was the participation of twelve study collaborators, but only nine interviews were conducted, considering that the managers of three municipalities were not found and / or could not schedule the interview. [...]the sample consisted of nine health managers who worked in one of the municipalities belonging to the 4th Health Region of BP.