Screening difficult-to-reach populations for tuberculosis using a mobile medical unit, Punjab, India

This study examined the number of patients with presumptive TB and the number of cases detected and treated

Abstract

Background

In India, the National Health Mission has provided one mobile medical unit (MMU) per district in the state of Punjab to provide primary health care services for difficult-to-reach populations.

Objectives

To determine the number of patients with presumptive tuberculosis (TB) and the number of TB cases detected and treated among patients who used the MMU services from May to December 2012 in Mohali district, Punjab, India.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted and registers of the out-patient, laboratory, radiology, and TB departments of the MMU were reviewed to determine the number of persons presumed to have TB and the number of persons diagnosed with TB.

Results

Of 8346 patients who attended the MMUs, 663 (8%) had symptoms suggestive of TB. Among those with TB symptoms, 540 (81%) were evaluated for pulmonary TB using sputum examination or chest X-ray. In total, 58 (11%) patients had clinical or laboratory evidence of pulmonary TB, of whom 21 (36%) started anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Conclusion

As MMUs are an integral part of the general public health system, these units have the potential to detect TB cases among difficult-to-reach populations. Additional research is required to optimise the diagnosis of TB at MMUs and to increase rates of TB treatment initiation.

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

Binepal G, Agarwal P, Kaur N, Singh B, Bhagat V, Verma RP, Satyanarayana S, Oeltmann JE, Moonan PK. (2015) Screening difficult-to-reach populations for tuberculosis using a mobile medical unit, Punjab, India. Public Health Action. 5(4):241-5. doi: 10.5588/pha.15.0042.

Screening difficult-to-reach populations for tuberculosis using a mobile medical unit, Punjab, India

Published 21 December 2015