Investigation of presumptive tuberculosis cases by private health providers: lessons learnt from a survey in Pakistan |
| |
| Authors: | R. Fatima E. Qadeer D. A. Enarson S. G. Hinderaker R. Harris A. Yaqoob A. Bassili |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. National Tuberculosis Control Programme Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan ;2. International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France ;3. University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway ;4. Public Health England, London, UK ;5. World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt ;6. Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. |
| |
| Abstract: | Pakistan''s National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) is missing data on many tuberculosis (TB) cases who visit private providers. A survey on the incidence and under-reporting of TB in Pakistan provided a database for exploring the investigation and referral of presumptive TB cases by private health providers. The survey showed that private health providers requested both sputum smear and X-ray for diagnostic investigations. Of 2161 presumptive TB cases referred, 1189 (55%) were sent for investigations to a district NTP TB centre, of whom only 314 (26.4%) were registered. This indicates an urgent need to strengthen the link between private health providers and NTP to enhance TB notification. |
| |
| Keywords: | tuberculosis diagnoses referral case detection |
|
|
