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The Ethnomedical Context Of Tuberculosis In A Northern Ecuadorian Province, Yamira Alejandra Araujo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Background. Tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control remains a major global public health challenge. Ecuador has among the highest estimated population prevalence rates for TB, TB-mortality, and multidrug resistant TB in the Americas (WHO, 2007; PAHO, 2004). However, with the exception of one prior study of a high-risk group of suspected cases and household contacts referred for TB testing (Armijos et al., 2008), very little is known about the disease and treatment knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices of Ecuadorian groups and the various socio-cultural and other factors (e.g., rurality, education, gender, disease experience) that shape these. The improved understanding of …