INTRODUCTION: Palpa is one of the rural districts of Nepal with high incidence of tuberculosis (TB) where Community Based Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) strategy was being trailed to make TB services accessible at community level. In spite of this, it has high defaulter rate; every year more than 5% patients had defaulted from the treatment and death due to TB was around 6%. The study, therefore, aimed to assess the patients’ compliance to the treatment and its associated factors.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quantitative crosssectional study was carried out using structured interview schedule. All registered TB patients (n=101) who were on treatment were enrolled in the study.RESULTS: TB patients of younger age group were found to be more compliant to the treatment (p=0.02). Side effect of the drugs was the major reason for the non compliance (36.00%). More than half of the TB patients had poor knowledge on TB and its treatment. Compliance was found to be significantly associated with knowledge (p=0.02) and perception (p=0.02) of the patients towards TB. Similarly, the study showed positive association between the compliance and service accessibility (distance: p=0.00), availability of treatment supervisor (p=0.01) and health education (p=0.02).CONCLUSIONS: Patients’ compliance with the TB treatment was found to be associated with their knowledge and perception on TB and its treatment. Health education and proper counseling was deemed necessary for the patients. Service accessibility along with communication skills training to the providers including community health volunteers can increase compliance rate

INTRODUCTION: Although the evidences suggest that more than one third tuberculosis (TB) cases are being managed in private sector, the quality of care in private sector is major concern. However, the information regarding the private practices were lacking. Therefore the study was conducted to gain insights on current practices of TB management at private sectors.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross sectional study, applying quantitative method, was conducted at two cities of Kaski among all private practitioners, private pharmacies and private laboratories through self administered questionnaire and structured interview schedule. RESULTS: Nearly one fourth of the TB suspects in the district were found to have consulted private providers with about 20.0% of the total smear positive cases diagnosed in private laboratories. Beside sputum microscopy, Private Medical Practitioners (PMPs) were also found to prefer other tests like X-ray, culture for TB diagnosis. Similarly, PMPs’ varying prescription of anti TB drugs beyond National TB Programme (NTP) recommendation along with their weak recording and case holding were noteworthy, and the cost of TB treatment seemed higher in private sector. Only one third of private institution had their staff trained in TB. Except some informal linkage, no collaboration between public and private sector was noted.CONCLUSIONS: Private sector was managing many TB cases in the district. However, their practice of TB management was not much satisfactory. Therefore NTP should take effective measures for Public Private Mix and to make them aware of the standards through training and orientation in order to improve the quality of care