Enhancing Childhood TB Notifications by Strengthening Linkages with Large Hospitals in Pakistan
National TB Program implemented a package of interventions Hospital DOTS linkages in 2015 in 144 hospitals across Pakistan
Abstract
To improve childhood Tuberculosis management, the National Tuberculosis Program implemented a package of interventions Hospital DOTS linkages (HDL) in 2015 in 144 tertiary and secondary care hospitals across Pakistan. This included systematic engagement of hospital administration and all specialist doctors, staff training and regular facility-based review meetings. HDL was associated with 35% increase in childhood TB notifications in 2015 (versus 2014) in HDL sites as compared to 16% increase in non-HDL sites. The increase was seen across provinces, age-groups and sexes, but did not correlate with presence of Xpert MTB/RIF® or “screeners” (health workers deployed to screen children for TB).
This research was supported by the UK Department for International Development’s Operational Research Capacity Building Programme led by the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union)
Citation
Mirza AS, Fatima R, Yaqoob A, Qadeer E, Wali A, Khurshid A, Haq MU, Kumar AM V. Enhancing Childhood TB Notifications by Strengthening Linkages with Large Hospitals in Pakistan—Childhood TB in Large Hospitals, Pakistan. J. Tuberc. Res. [Internet]. 2018;6:63–7.
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Enhancing Childhood TB Notifications by Strengthening Linkages with Large Hospitals in Pakistan