Utilisation of nutritional support scheme among the patients of tuberculosis: A myth or a truth

INTRODUCTION: Under-nutrition increases the susceptibility to active tuberculosis and delays recovery. Nikshay Poshan Yojana provides a financial incentive of Rs. 500/month for each notified TB patient for a duration until the patient is on anti-TB treatment. OBJECTIVES: 1. To find out the utilization of the nutritional support scheme among TB patients. 2. To give evidence-based recommendations. METHODS: It is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted among TB patients. 2 DMC's in each of the 2TU (randomly selected from 12 TUs) were chosen. 83 patients responded to telephonic interview out of all patients registered in the last six months. The demographic details were collected from TB treatment cards and registers and other information by telephonic interview of 10–15 min each conducted over a period of 15–20 days. The quantitative data thus collected was analysed in terms of frequency, percentage and Chi-square test and qualitative data from patients and providers were analysed by thematic analysis. RESULTS: Majority were of 40–60 years of age and were males. A total of 76 patients were aware of the scheme but only 17 patients had received their first instalment after two months in their account. Among the 17 who faced difficulty while getting the money, 13 TB patients spent it on nutrition. Lack of communication, stigma, unawareness, ignorance, illiteracy, multistep approval process and technical issues were few themes that emerged as difficulties encountered while utilisation. CONCLUSION: There is a large gap between demand and supply chain of services. A majority were unsatisfied and thus the administrative scale up for proper implementation of services and measures to bring down the stigma attached with the disease was recommended.