Includes curriculum vitae.

ABSTRACT :
The rising incidence of tuberculosis has economic repercussions not only for the patient's family but also for the country. Eighty percent of people afflicted with tuberculosis are in the most productive years of their lives, and the disease sends many self-sustaining families into poverty. The rise in the incidence of tuberculosis has been due to the low priority accorded to anti-tuberculosis activities by many countries. The unavailability of anti-TB drugs in the rural areas, insufficient laboratory facilities, poor health infrastructures, including lack of trained health personnel, have also contributed to the rise in the incidence of the disease. According to the World Health Organization, the Philippines ranks fourth in the world for the number of cases of tuberculosis and has the highest percentage of population in Southeast Asia. Almost six percent of Filipinos have tuberculosis, and this is equivalent to almost five million infected persons. In 1996, WHO introduced the Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) to ensure completion of the treatment of the disease. The DOTS strategy has five elements for its success: Microscope, Medicines, Monitoring, Directly Observed Treatment, and Political Commitment. If any of these elements are missing, our ability to consistently cure TB patients slips through our fingers. The Philippines is among the 22 high-burdened countries in the world according to WHO. TB is the 6h leading cause of deaths among the Filipinos. Most TB patients belong to the most productive age-group (15-54 years-old) according to the 2nd National Prevalence Survey in 1997. Tuberculosis is a curable disease. Patients are prescribed as early as possible with appropriate regimen to render them non-infectious and cured. The treatment for TB is a combination of 3-4 anti TB drugs. NEVER should we prescribe a SINGLE DRUG for the TB treatment! This will worsen the patient's condition. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM This study aimed to investigate the incidence of tuberculosis cases in Brgy. Lumbangan, Nasugbu, Batangas, as a basis of an assessment of tuberculosis patient. Specifically it sought to answer the following questions: 1. What is the profile of the respondents in Barangay Lumbangan in terms of: 1.1 Age; 1.2 Gender; 1.3 Monthly Income; 1.4 Civil Status; and 1.5 Educational Background? 2. What is the present health condition of the respondents as to: 2.1 Disease classification 3. What is the level of awareness of the respondents about TB regarding: 3.1 Health teaching program; 3.2 Awareness on transmission/risk factors of the disease; 3.3 Awareness on the signs and symptoms of TB; and 3.4 Awareness regarding TB DOT and treatment partner?
METHODOLOGY The descriptive study method was used in this study. This method determines the characteristics of the data at hand by describing the information being studied. The instruments used by the researchers in gathering data are mainly based on question and interview which are constructed concerning the Assessment of Tuberculosis Patient's in Brgy. Lumbangan Nasugbu, Batangas. It is in the form of checklist with the corresponding possible answer which was designed in a simplest form for easy understanding. The set of questionnaire was formed by the researchers along with their knowledge and understanding of the situation. Interview was used on the field research. The interview was conducted with prominent persons such as staffs of health center. The questionnaire was handed to the respondent representing area. The data gathered was tabulated in a percentile manner. In order to attain the goal of this study, the researcher selected the Brgy. Lumbangan, Nasugbu, Batangas as the research venue. The researcher requested permission from the health center to allow them to accomplish the needed information as their major basis for the success of this study. The Statistical treatment used was the Weighted Mean wherein the researchers adopted the views that were considered carrying the greatest weight among the given range of opinions or views on a particular issue.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS 1. The study showed that the majority of respondents' age were 41-59 years old with the frequency of 13 or 52%,60 and above with the frequency of 7 or 28%, 21-40 years old with frequency of 5 or 20%. 2. The study showed that the majority of the respondents were male with the frequency of 15 and has a percentage of 60% and the female with a frequency of 10 and has a percentage of 40%. 3. This study showed that majority of respondents were earning 5,000 10,000 with the frequency of 17 and has a percentage of 68%, 10,001 15,000 with the frequency of 4 and has a percentage of 16%, 15,001 20,000 with the frequency of 3 and has a percentage of 12% and 20,001-25,000 with the frequency of 1 and has a percentage of 4%. 4. This study showed that most of the respondents were High School Graduates with the frequency of 14 and percentage of 56%, college graduate with the frequency of 5 and percentage of 20%, college undergraduate with frequency of 5 and percentage of 20%, high school undergraduate with the frequency of 1 and percentage of 4%. 5. This study showed that most of the respondents were married with the frequency of 16 and percentage of 64%, widow with the frequency of 7 and percentage of 28%, single with the frequency of 2 and percentage of 8%. 6. The study showed that most of the respondents' disease classifications were pulmonary with the frequency of 25 and percentage of 100%. 7. The average weighted mean of the respondent's perception towards Health Teaching Program was 3.00. 8. The average weighted mean of the respondent's perception towards Awareness on the transmission/risk factors of the disease was 2.68. 9. The average weighted mean of the respondent's perception towards the Awareness on the sign and symptoms of TB was 3.44. 10. The average weighted mean of the respondent's perception towards the Awareness regarding the TB DOT and treatment partner was 3.16.
CONCLUSION Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that there is a need to intensify efforts to awaken the people regarding the disease and for health providers to focus on the sustained drive to lessen the effects if not complete eradication of the disease.
RECOMMENDATION Based on the results of the study, the following recommendations are hereby advanced: Treatment of patients with tuberculosis is most successful within a comprehensive framework that addresses both clinical and social issues of relevance to the patient. The public should be made aware of the behavior of the causative agent of the disease as well as the preventive measures and treatment of the disease. It is essential that treatment be tailored and supervision be based on each patient's clinical and social circumstances (patient-centered care). Patients may be managed in the private sector, by public health departments, or jointly, but in all cases the health department is ultimately responsible for ensuring that adequate, appropriate diagnostic and treatment services are available, and for monitoring the results of therapy. It is strongly recommended that patient-centered care be the initial management strategy, regardless of the source of supervision. This strategy should always include an adherence plan that emphasizes directly observed therapy (DOT), in which patients are observed to ingest each dose of anti tuberculosis medications, to maximize the likelihood of completion of therapy. Programs utilizing DOT as the central element in a comprehensive, patient centered approach to case management have higher rates of treatment completion than less intensive strategies. Each patient's management plan should be individualized to incorporate measures that facilitate adherence to the drug regimen. Such measures may include, housing assistance, referral for treatment of substance abuse, and coordination of tuberculosis services with those of other providers.