Decentralization of access to special tuberculosis treatment information system

Abstract

Objectives: discuss the decentralization process of access to the Special Tuberculosis Treatment Information System (SITETB) and to characterize the patients notified and treated. Method: quantitative study using data from the SITETB databases, from 2013 to 2016, in the city of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, carried out in four stages: elaboration of flows, choice of institutions receiving access to the system, training of the teams and monitoring of notifications and case monitoring. Results: the Special Tuberculosis Treatment Information System was decentralized to five referral centers in tuberculosis, nine general hospitals and the Central Prison. Most of the notified patients are in the economically active age group, are men and the pulmonary form of tuberculosis is predominant. Conclusion: decentralization of information systems can raise challenges that require changes in the management and care relationships involved in this process.