Facility records of 320 TB （tuberculosis） patients were examined over a one-year-period; January-December 2009 to ascertain the screening of children under 6 years of age who have had contacts with sputum smear posi...Facility records of 320 TB （tuberculosis） patients were examined over a one-year-period; January-December 2009 to ascertain the screening of children under 6 years of age who have had contacts with sputum smear positive TB patients as stipulated in the NTBLCP （National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program） guidelines. In addition, semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 28 DOTS （directly-observed treatment strategy） clinicians to elicit information to help explain findings from the analysis of the routine data. Over 60% of children less than 6 years of age who had contacts with TB patients were not investigated in the health facilities included in the survey. The level of educational attainment of DOTS providers was associated with the screening of TB patients＇ contacts （P = 0.008）. Forgetfulness by clinicians to ask for or screen children of TB patients in the facilities is the singular most important factor undermining contact investigation. The proportion of under 6 years TB contacts screened or not screened for TB in the facilities was similar according to the age and gender of TB patients, and the type of health facilities where treatment was accessed by patients （P = 0.325）. The study underscored the need for the state program to evaluate the quality of service provision as well as counseling provided to TB patients at the facilities.展开更多
文摘Facility records of 320 TB （tuberculosis） patients were examined over a one-year-period; January-December 2009 to ascertain the screening of children under 6 years of age who have had contacts with sputum smear positive TB patients as stipulated in the NTBLCP （National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program） guidelines. In addition, semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 28 DOTS （directly-observed treatment strategy） clinicians to elicit information to help explain findings from the analysis of the routine data. Over 60% of children less than 6 years of age who had contacts with TB patients were not investigated in the health facilities included in the survey. The level of educational attainment of DOTS providers was associated with the screening of TB patients＇ contacts （P = 0.008）. Forgetfulness by clinicians to ask for or screen children of TB patients in the facilities is the singular most important factor undermining contact investigation. The proportion of under 6 years TB contacts screened or not screened for TB in the facilities was similar according to the age and gender of TB patients, and the type of health facilities where treatment was accessed by patients （P = 0.325）. The study underscored the need for the state program to evaluate the quality of service provision as well as counseling provided to TB patients at the facilities.
