Background: Case detection is an important component of tuberculosis
control programmes. It helps identify sources of infection, treat them,
and thus break the chain of infection. Objective: To determine the
reasons of low tuberculosis case detection in Gokwe Districts,
Zimbabwe. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted.
We used interviewer administered questionnaire for nurses and patients,
checklists, key informant interviews. Results: Thirty-eight nurses,
forty-two patients and seven key informants were interviewed and 1254
entries in tuberculosis register were reviewed. Nurses correctly
defined pulmonary tuberculosis, listed signs and symptoms, preventive
measures and methods of tuberculosis diagnosis. Exit interviews showed
9/42 (21%) of patients presenting with cough were asked to submit sputa
for examination and asked about household contacts with tuberculosis.
About 27% of patients who were sputum positive in the laboratory
register were not recorded in the district tuberculosis register. This
contributed to the high proportion of early defaulters among
tuberculosis suspects. Conclusion: Low tuberculosis case detection was
because nurses were not routinely requesting for sputum for examination
in patients presenting with a cough or history of previous treatment
for cough. Nurses should routinely request for sputum for examination
in patients presenting with a cough or history of recent treatment for
cough