Analysis of the TB Control Program with the Indicators for Improving TB Case Finding:A Case from Yemen

Takuji DATE

ABSTRACT

<big>Introduction</big> As for the available healthcare services, there is a big gap not only between developed and developing countries but also those are not equally available even in a single country. In order to cope with geographical gaps of healthcare services in the Republic of Yemen, the improvement of accessibility to healthcare services is placed as priority of the 5-year plan of health development. However, analysis of health information in developing countries may not be easy because of the weak health statistics mechanism. The data from national TB control program may be considered as a possible way to analyze the geographical gaps and improve the tuberculosis case finding in developing countries. <big>Methods</big> The case detection rate of new smear positive tuberculosis patients in districts was calculated by using data from the latest population census in the Republic of Yemen. The calculated case detection rate was statistically analyzed with the factors such as availability of microscopy centre, population and the distance from provincial capital. <big>Results</big> The case detection rate of new smear positive tuberculosis patient is significantly different in the districts that have microscopy centre or more than 42,322 populations. The availability of the microscopy centre may be considered as the significant factor for achieving better case finding of new smear positive tuberculosis patients in the districts. Population of the districts where new smear positive tuberculosis patients found has been calculated as 74.1% of the total population. This calculation almost matches the target of the population that may be covered by the public health services according to the 5-year health development plan of the Ministry of Public Health. <big>Conclusions</big> The statistically analyzed data may provide a possible way to improve the national TB control program.