Care seeking and attitudes towards treatment compliance by newly enrolled tuberculosis patients in the district treatment programme in rural western Kenya: a qualitative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The two issues mostly affecting the success of tuberculosis (TB) control programmes are delay in presentation and non-adherence to treatment. It is important to understand the factors that contribute to these issues, particularly in resource limited settings, where rates of tuberculosis are high. The objective of this study is to assess health-seeking behaviour and health care experiences among persons with pulmonary tuberculosis, and identify the reasons patients might not complete their treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed qualitative one-on-one in-depth interviews with pulmonary tuberculosis patients in nine health facilities in rural western Kenya. Thirty-one patients, 18 women and 13 men, participated in the study. All reside in an area of western Kenya with a Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS). They had attended treatment for up to 4 weeks on scheduled TB clinic days in September and October 2005.</p> <p>The nine sites all provide diagnostic and treatment services. Eight of the facilities were public (3 hospitals and 5 health centres) and one was a mission health centre.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Most patients initially self-treated with herbal remedies or drugs purchased from kiosks or pharmacies before seeking professional care. The reported time from initial symptoms to TB diagnosis ranged from 3 weeks to 9 years. Misinterpretation of early symptoms and financial constraints were the most common reasons reported for the delay.</p> <p>We also explored potential reasons that patients might discontinue their treatment before completing it. Reasons included being unaware of the duration of TB treatment, stopping treatment once symptoms subsided, and lack of family support.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This qualitative study highlighted important challenges to TB control in rural western Kenya, and provided useful information that was further validated in a quantitative study in the same area.</p

Estimating the annual risk of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis among adolescents in Western Kenya in preparation for TB vaccine trials

Background: Adolescents are a prime target group for tuberculosis (TB) vaccine trials that include prevention of infection (POI). The BCG vaccine is given at birth and does not prevent TB infection. TB infection, a critical endpoint for POI vaccine trials would need to be documented to estimate sample sizes in target populations. Methods: Adolescents aged 12-18 years of age were enrolled in an area under continuous demographic surveillance. A tuberculin skin test (TST) survey was conducted as part of a study on TB prevalence and incidence. All adolescents got TSTs at enrolment and returned after 72 h for reading. A TST of ≥10 mm if HIV negative or ≥ 5 mm if HIV positive, was considered positive. Results: Of 4808 adolescents returning for TST readings (96% of those enrolled), mean age was 14.4 (SD 1.9), 4518(94%) were enrolled in school and 21(0.4%) gave a previous history of tuberculosis. Among adolescents with TST reactivity, the mean TST induration was 13.2 mm (SD 5.4). The overall prevalence of latent TB infection was 1544/4808 (32.1, 95% CI 29.2-35.1) with a corresponding annual risk of TB infection (ARTI) of 2.6% (95% CI 2.2-3.1). Risk factors for a positive TST included being male (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.2,1.5), history of having a household TB contact (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2,1.8), having a BCG scar (OR 1.5,95% CI 1.2,1.8), living in a rural area (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1,1.9), and being out of school (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4,2.3). Conclusion: We conclude that the high TB transmission rates we found in this study, suggest that adolescents in this region may be an appropriate target group for TB vaccine trials including TB vaccine trials aiming to prevent infection

Tuberculosis case finding in a population with high HIV prevalence in Western Kenya

Anja van ’t Hoog onderzocht het voorkomen van tbc in het westen van Kenia. In dit gebied is vijftien procent van de bevolking besmet met hiv en komt veel tbc voor. Veel gevallen van besmettelijke tbc worden niet opgemerkt, zowel onder het deel van de bevolking dat met hiv besmet is, als onder degenen die dat niet zijn. De meeste van de in het onderzoek gevonden besmettelijke gevallen zouden niet zijn gevonden met de gangbare methode van opsporing, waarbij patiënten met langdurige hoest zelf naar de gezondheidszorg moeten. Een kwart van de patiënten met besmettelijke tbc had nog geen enkele zorgverlener bezocht. Om de tbc-bestrijding te verbeteren, dient het opsporen van personen met besmettelijke tbc te veranderen

The incidence of tuberculosis in infants, Siaya District, Western Kenya

Background: Infants are a target population for new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines. TB incidence estimates are needed to guide the design of trials. To determine the TB incidence and cohort retention among young children using comprehensive diagnostic methods in a high burden area. Methods: Infants 0-42 days were enrolled. Through 4 monthly follow-up and unscheduled (sick) visits up to the age of 2 years, infants with presumptive TB based on a history of contact, TB symptoms or pre-determined hospitalization criteria were admitted to a case verification ward. Two induced sputa and gastric aspirates were collected for culture and GeneXpert. Mantoux and HIV tests were done. Clinical management was based on the Keith Edwards score. Cases were classified into microbiologically confirmed or radiologic, diagnosed by blinded expert assessment. Cox regression was used to identify risk factors for incident TB and study retention. Results: Of 2900 infants enrolled, 927 (32%) developed presumptive TB, 737/927 (80%) were investigated. Sixty-nine TB cases were diagnosed (bacteriologic and radiologic). All TB incidence was 2/100 person-years of observation (pyo) (95% CI: 1.65-2.65). Nine were bacteriologic cases, incidence 0.3/100 pyo. The radiologic TB incidence was 1.82/100 pyo. Bacteriologic TB was associated with infant HIV infection, higher Keith Edwards scores. Completeness of 4-month vaccinations and HIV infection were positively associated with retention. Conclusions: TB incidence was high. An all TB endpoint would require a sample size of a few thousand children, but tens of thousands, when limited to bacteriologic TB

The Incidence of Tuberculosis in Infants, Siaya District, Western Kenya

BACKGROUND: Infants are a target population for new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines. TB incidence estimates are needed to guide the design of trials. To determine the TB incidence and cohort retention among young children using comprehensive diagnostic methods in a high burden area. METHODS: Infants 0-42 days were enrolled. Through 4 monthly follow-up and unscheduled (sick) visits up to the age of 2 years, infants with presumptive TB based on a history of contact, TB symptoms or pre-determined hospitalization criteria were admitted to a case verification ward. Two induced sputa and gastric aspirates were collected for culture and GeneXpert. Mantoux and HIV tests were done. Clinical management was based on the Keith Edwards score. Cases were classified into microbiologically confirmed or radiologic, diagnosed by blinded expert assessment. Cox regression was used to identify risk factors for incident TB and study retention. RESULTS: Of 2900 infants enrolled, 927 (32%) developed presumptive TB, 737/927 (80%) were investigated. Sixty-nine TB cases were diagnosed (bacteriologic and radiologic). All TB incidence was 2/100 person-years of observation (pyo) (95% CI: 1.65-2.65). Nine were bacteriologic cases, incidence 0.3/100 pyo. The radiologic TB incidence was 1.82/100 pyo. Bacteriologic TB was associated with infant HIV infection, higher Keith Edwards scores. Completeness of 4-month vaccinations and HIV infection were positively associated with retention. CONCLUSIONS: TB incidence was high. An all TB endpoint would require a sample size of a few thousand children, but tens of thousands, when limited to bacteriologic TB

Incidence of Active Tuberculosis and Cohort Retention Among Adolescents in Western Kenya

Setting: Siaya County, with the highest tuberculosis notification rates in Kenya. Objectives: To determine the incidence of active tuberculosis and 1-year cohort retention in 12-18-year-old adolescents, in preparation for phase III tuberculosis vaccine trials. Methods: Adolescents were enrolled and followed up for 1-2 years to determine tuberculosis incidence. Adolescents with a positive tuberculin skin test, history of cohabitation with a tuberculosis case or at least 1 tuberculosis symptom received clinical and sputum examination and a chest radiograph. Definite tuberculosis cases were bacteriologically confirmed and clinical cases diagnosed by a clinician based on a suggestive chest radiograph and having clinical symptoms. Risk factors were explored using Poisson regression. Results: Among 4934 adolescents without tuberculosis at baseline, 26 tuberculosis cases were identified during follow-up with a corresponding incidence density of 4.4 [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.0-6.4] events per 1000 person-years of observation, 12 definite tuberculosis cases; incidence density of 2.0 (95% CI: 0.9-3.1). Having previous tuberculosis (rate ratio: 12.5; CI: 1.8-100) and presence of tuberculin skin test conversion (rate ratio: 3.4; CI: 1.5-7.7) were significantly associated with higher risk of tuberculosis. Overall (4086/4925), 83.0% of adolescents were retained in the study after 1 year of follow-up. Being female, older, out of school and being orphaned were significant risk factors for loss to follow-up. Conclusion: The tuberculosis incidence in adolescents will help inform future tuberculosis vaccine trial sample size calculations for this setting. The predictive factors for tuberculosis and retention can be further explored in future trial

Symptom- and chest-radiography screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-negative adults and adults with unknown HIV status

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To assess the sensitivity and specificity of questioning for presence of one or more selected symptoms, or symptom combinations, or both; chest radiography; and combinations of those as screening tools for detecting bacteriologically confirmed active pulmonary TB in people considered eligible for TB screening who are HIV-negative or whose HIV-status is unknown. If data allow, we will investigate heterogeneity in relation to: background epidemiology (prevalence of pulmonary TB and of HIV among the study population); risk groups targeted (for example, migrants, occupational, prisoners, or the general population); reference standard (culture, Xpert, smear microscopy); screen test definition; representativeness of the study design and population for intended screening practice (inclusion of people without any symptoms or CXR abnormalities); study participants characteristics (age, sex and HIV status); geographic area and economic region. In the investigation of heterogeneity we intend to stratify for combinations of risk groups or specific populations and background epidemiology, that is, at different levels of TB prevalence among the screened population. We do not intend to do a formal comparison of the accuracy of screening tests as part of this review. As part of the TB screening guideline development process, we will compare diagnostic algorithms as described above

Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Western Kenya: operational issues

To improve uptake in a program to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission and describe lessons relevant for prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs in resource-poor settings. Implementation of a pilot project that evaluates approaches to increase program uptake at health facility level at New Nyanza Provincial General Hospital, a public hospital in western Kenya, an area with high HIV prevalence. Client flow was revised to integrate counseling, HIV testing, and dispensing of single-dose nevirapine into routine antenatal services. The number of facilities providing PMCT services was expanded to increase district-wide coverage. Main outcome measures were uptake of counseling, HIV testing, nevirapine, and estimated program impact. Uptake of counseling and testing improved from 55 to 68% (P <0.001), nevirapine uptake from 57% to 70% (P <0.001), and estimated program impact from 15% to 23% (P = 0.03). Aggregate reports compare well with computer-entered data. Addressing institutional factors can improve uptake, but expected program impact remains low for several reasons, including relatively low efficacy of the intervention and missed opportunities in the labor roo

High Prevalence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Inadequate Case Finding in Rural Western Kenya

Rationale: Limited information exists on the prevalence of tuberculosis and adequacy of case finding in African populations with high rates of HIV. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and the fraction attributable to HIV, and to evaluate case detection. Methods: Residents aged 15 years and older, from 40 randomly sampled clusters, provided two sputum samples for microscopy; those with chest radiograph abnormalities or symptoms suggestive of PTB provided one additional sputum sample for culture. Measurements and Main Results: PTB was defined by a culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis or two positive smears. Persons with PTB were offered HIV testing and interviewed on care-seeking behavior. We estimated the population-attributable fraction of HIV on prevalent and notified PTB, the patient diagnostic rate, and case detection rate using provincial TB notification data. Among 20,566 participants, 123 had PTB. TB prevalence was 6.0/1,000 (95% confidence interval, 4.6-7.4) for all PTB and 2.5/1,000 (1.6-3.4) for smear-positive PTB. Of 101 prevalent TB cases tested, 52 (51%) were HIV infected, and 58 (64%) of 91 cases who were not on treatment and were interviewed had not sought care. Forty-eight percent of prevalent and 65% of notified PTB cases were attributable to HIV. For smear-positive and smear-negative PTB combined, the patient diagnostic rate was 1.4 cases detected per person-year among HIV-infected persons having PTB and 0.6 for those who were HIV uninfected, corresponding to case detection rates of 56 and 65%, respectively. Conclusions: Undiagnosed PTB is common in this community. TB case finding needs improvement, for instance through intensified case finding with mobile smear microscopy services, rigorous HIV testing, and improved diagnosis of smear-negative T