DOTS (DIRECTLY OBSERVED TREATMENT, SHORT COURSE) IN HENAN PROVINCE, CHINA

COMPARISON OF WHO AND THE HENAN-METHOD

Abstract

Henan province is the largest province in China, situated in the middle east of China along the Huanghe River with a total population of 91 million people. Here DOTS has been implemented since September 1993, and by the end of 1997 among 112 counties, 47 counties of 32 million population (39.8%) have been enrolled. 8, 430 smear positive patients among 9, 254 have been cured (cure rate, 91.1%). In this province, prescriptions and managements of DOTS differ slightly from the original WHO-method. Uniqueness of the Henan-method and factors which rendered fair cure-rates are discussed.