A comparative analysis of two national tuberculosis reporting systems and their impact on tuberculosis case notification in Uganda

Background: Before 2018, the use of parallel tuberculosis (TB) reporting systems was resource intensive with duplication of efforts and hence the need to select one that contributed to better TB case notification at the National TB and Leprosy Program (NLTP) in Uganda. We sought to analyse the difference in reporting rates between the two systems in order to improve NTLP TB case notification rates, logistics management, and planning for better health service delivery initiatives. Methods: We conducted a comparative study to assess TB case notification between the web-based DHIS2 and the district TB supervisor-led health management information system between January 2016 to December 2017. We used Poisson regression analysis to assess the statistical differences in reporting rates between the two reporting systems. Results: The association between TB case notification and the type of reporting system was statistically significant (Prob > chi2 = 0.0000). The Incident Rate Ratio (IRR) for the web-enabled DHIS2 system versus the district TB supervisor-led health management information system was 1.106625. Conclusion: The web-based integrated DHIS2 system was more effective in reporting missing TB cases. It presents an opportunity for better planning and allocation of resources for improved service delivery in a low-income setting.

A comparative analysis of two national tuberculosis reporting systems and their impact on tuberculosis case notification in Uganda.

Background: Before 2018, the use of parallel tuberculosis (TB) reporting systems was resource intensive with duplication of efforts and hence the need to select one that contributed to better TB case notification at the National TB and Leprosy Program (NLTP) in Uganda. We sought to analyse the difference in reporting rates between the two systems in order to improve NTLP TB case notification rates, logistics management, and planning for better health service delivery initiatives. Methods: We conducted a comparative study to assess TB case notification between the web-based DHIS2 and the district TB supervisor-led health management information system between January 2016 to December 2017. We used Poisson regression analysis to assess the statistical differences in reporting rates between the two reporting systems. Results: The association between TB case notification and the type of reporting system was statistically significant (Prob > chi2 = 0.0000). The Incident Rate Ratio (IRR) for the web-enabled DHIS2 system versus the district TB supervisor-led health management information system was 1.106625. Conclusion: The web-based integrated DHIS2 system was more effective in reporting missing TB cases. It presents an opportunity for better planning and allocation of resources for improved service delivery in a low-income setting.

Risk factors for mortality among patients diagnosed with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in Uganda- a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) End TB strategy aims to reduce mortality due to tuberculosis (TB) to less than 5% by 2035. However, mortality due to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remains particularly high. Globally, almost 20% of patients started on MDR-TB treatment die during the course of treatment every year. We set out to examine the risk factors for mortality among a cohort of patients diagnosed with MDR-TB in Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study nested within the national MDR-TB cohort. We defined cases as patients who died from any cause during the course of MDR-TB treatment. We selected two controls for each case from patients alive and on MDR-TB treatment at the time that the death occurred (incidence-density sampling). We matched the cases and controls on health facility at which they were receiving care. We performed conditional logistic regression to identify the risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: Data from 198 patients (66 cases and 132 controls) started on MDR-TB treatment from January 1 to December 31, 2016, was analyzed for this study. Cases were similar to controls in age/sex distribution, occupation and history of TB treatment. However, cases were more likely to be HIV infected while controls were more likely to have attained secondary level education. On multivariate regression analysis, co-infection with HIV (aOR 1.9, 95% CI [1.1-4.92] p = 0.05); non-adherence to MDR-TB treatment (aOR 1.92, 95% CI [1.02-4.83] p = 0.04); age over 50 years (aOR 3.04, 95% CI [1.13-8.20] p = 0.03); and having no education (aOR 3.61, 95% CI [1.1-10.4] p = 0.03) were associated with MDR-TB mortality. CONCLUSION: To mitigate MDR-TB mortality, attention must be paid to provision of social support particularly for older persons on MDR-TB treatment. In addition, interventions that support treatment adherence and promote early detection and management of TB among HIV infected persons should also be emphasized.

Comparative yield of different active TB case finding interventions in a large urban TB project in central Uganda: a descriptive study.

INTRODUCTION: Systematic screening for TB among patients presenting to care and among high risk populations is recommended to improve TB case finding. We aimed to describe the comparative yield of three TB screening approaches implemented by a large urban TB project in central Uganda. METHODS: We abstracted data on the screening cascade from 65 health facilities and their surrounding communities (numbers screened, with presumptive TB, receiving a diagnostic test and diagnosed with TB) from the different clinic and community TB registers. RESULTS: From January 2018 to December 2019, 93,378 (24%) of all patients screened at health facilities had presumptive TB; 77,381 (82.9%) received a diagnostic test and 14,305 (18.5%) were diagnosed with TB. The screening yield (the number of patients diagnosed with TB out of all patients screened) was 0.3% and was three times higher among men than women (0.6% vs 0.2% p<0.01). During targeted community screening interventions, 9874 (21.1%) of all patients screened had presumptive TB; 7034 (71.2%) of these received a diagnostic test and 1699 (24.2%) were diagnosed with TB. The screening yield was higher among men, (3.7% vs 3.3% p<0.01) and highest among children 0-14 (4.8% vs 3.2% p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Targeted community TB screening interventions improve access to TB diagnosis for men and children 0-14 years.

Comparative yield of different active TB case finding interventions in a large urban TB project in central Uganda: a descriptive study

Introduction: Systematic screening for TB among patients presenting to care and among high risk populations is recom- mended to improve TB case finding. We aimed to describe the comparative yield of three TB screening approaches imple- mented by a large urban TB project in central Uganda. Methods: We abstracted data on the screening cascade from 65 health facilities and their surrounding communities (num- bers screened, with presumptive TB, receiving a diagnostic test and diagnosed with TB) from the different clinic and com- munity TB registers. Results: From January 2018 to December 2019, 93,378 (24%) of all patients screened at health facilities had presumptive TB; 77,381 (82.9%) received a diagnostic test and 14,305 (18.5%) were diagnosed with TB. The screening yield (the number of patients diagnosed with TB out of all patients screened) was 0.3% and was three times higher among men than women (0.6% vs 0.2% p<0.01). During targeted community screening interventions, 9874 (21.1%) of all patients screened had presumptive TB; 7034 (71.2%) of these received a diagnostic test and 1699 (24.2%) were diagnosed with TB. The screening yield was higher among men, (3.7% vs 3.3% p<0.01) and highest among children 0-14 (4.8% vs 3.2% p<0.01). Conclusion: Targeted community TB screening interventions improve access to TB diagnosis for men and children 0-14 years

Immunization review meetings: "Low Hanging Fruit" for capacity building and data quality improvement?

INTRODUCTION: Although systematic program review meetings are common practice in many health and immunization programs, there is little documentation on their implementation and role. Adult education principles espouse opportunities for peer exchange to build capacity and cross-learning, for which review meetings have been a forum utilized in immunization programs for many years. This study describes the process and use of review meetings to build immunization technical capacity in four African countries since 2011. METHODS: A longitudinal case study providing retrospective descriptive analysis and qualitative data collected on immunization program implementation and review meetings conducted within the years of 2011-2016 with district and facility health staff and technical partners from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. RESULTS: Based on summarized findings and analyses from over 200 review meetings conducted in the four countries within the time period of 2011-2016, these meetings have been shown to be effective tools for improving immunization program performance and the capacity of health staff. CONCLUSION: Review meetings (ideally conducted quarterly) provide health workers with beneficial and low cost opportunities for adult learning, including building skills in data analysis and review, which can be sustained at district and health facility levels. In combination with other performance improvement approaches implemented and supported in countries (such as supportive supervision, training, and on-the-job learning and assessment), review meetings can also contribute to achievement of immunization and health outcomes.