DETERMINANTS OF TUBERCULOSIS TREATMENT ABANDONMENT IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: EVIDENCE FROM NORTHEAST BRAZIL

Abstract

Tuberculosis remains an important public health problem, and treatment loss to follow-up represents one of the main challenges to disease control. This study aimed to analyze factors associated with tuberculosis treatment abandonment in Northeastern Brazil and discuss their implications for Primary Health Care. This narrative literature review was conducted using the Virtual Health Library, SciELO, and PubMed databases and included studies published between 2015 and 2025. The evidence was organized into three dimensions: socioeconomic and territorial factors; clinical and behavioral factors; and aspects related to the organization of health services. The findings showed associations between treatment abandonment and socioeconomic vulnerabilities, territorial inequalities, alcohol use, previous treatment abandonment, disease recurrence, TB/HIV coinfection, and difficulties in clinical and healthcare follow-up. Important differences were also identified across states, municipalities, and population groups. Treatment abandonment is therefore a multifactorial phenomenon requiring territory-based strategies, longitudinal follow-up, active outreach, strengthened patient–healthcare team relationships, and integration between epidemiological surveillance and Primary Health Care.