Predictors of mortality in Ugandan children with TB, 2016-2021.

BACKGROUND: The burden of pediatric TB is high in Uganda. Our objective was to evaluate predictors of mortality during TB treatment among children at an urban and a rural referral hospital.METHODS: We designed a historical cohort study of TB cases at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala; and Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Fort Portal, Uganda, in children aged <15 years from 2016 to 2021. We used Kaplan-Meier models to estimate survival and fit multivariable Cox regression models to determine mortality hazards during TB treatment.RESULTS: We identified 1,658 children diagnosed with TB from 2016 to 2021. Of 1,623 children with known treatment outcomes, 127/1,623 (7.8%) died during TB treatment, 1,298/1,623 (78.3%) completed treatment, 150/1,623 (9.2%) were lost to follow-up, and two children failed treatment. Using Kaplan-Meier functions, the median time to death was 27 days following treatment initiation. In adjusted Cox models, predictors of mortality included HIV (aHR 1.68, 95% CI 1.01-2.81), moderate malnutrition (aHR 2.22, 95% CI 1.18-4.16), and severe malnutrition (aHR 2.92, 95% CI 1.75-4.87).CONCLUSION: Mortality was high at an urban and a rural referral hospital among children who initiated TB treatment from 2016 to 2021, with the majority of deaths occurring during the intensive phase of TB treatment. Malnutrition and HIV were significant predictors of death during treatment.

Decentralisation of child tuberculosis services increases case finding and uptake of preventive therapy in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: A lack of capacity to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) in children at peripheral health facilities and limited contact screening and management contribute to low case finding in TB-endemic settings. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the implementation of a pilot project that strengthened diagnosis, treatment and prevention of child TB at peripheral health facilities in Uganda. METHODS: In June 2015, health care workers at peripheral health facilities were trained to diagnose and treat child TB. Community health care workers were trained to screen household TB contacts. Before-and-after analysis as well as comparisons with non-intervention districts were used to evaluate impact on caseload and treatment outcomes. RESULTS: By December 2016, the average number of children (age < 15 years) diagnosed with TB increased from 45 to 108 per quarter. The proportion of child TB among all TB cases increased from 8.8% to 15%, and the proportion completing treatment increased from 65% to 82%. Of 2270 child TB contacts screened, 55 (2.4%) were diagnosed with TB. Of 910 eligible child contacts, 670 (74%) started preventive therapy, 569 (85%) of whom completed therapy. CONCLUSION: The strengthening of child TB services at peripheral health facilities in Uganda was associated with increased case finding, improved treatment outcomes and the successful implementation of contact screening and management.