Background: Zimbabwe recorded a 55% increase in HIV testing from 2011 to 2018 but with decreasing HIV-testing yields from 20% to 6% respectively as we aim to identify the narrowing gap of undiagnosed people living wit...Background: Zimbabwe recorded a 55% increase in HIV testing from 2011 to 2018 but with decreasing HIV-testing yields from 20% to 6% respectively as we aim to identify the narrowing gap of undiagnosed people living with HIV. As such adoption of screening tools during targeted HIV testing services improves efficiency by identifying individuals who are likely to test positive. Effective utilization of screening tools requires an understanding of health care worker perception and willingness to use the tools. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study among healthcare workers at 8 selected primary healthcare facilities in Zimbabwe. Interviewer-guided, in-depth interviews were conducted with healthcare workers and their immediate supervisors. Thematic analysis was performed following a framework built around the grounded theory model to describe perspectives that influence the utilization of HIV screening tools and suggestions for improved eligibility screening. Results: Behavioural factors facilitating the utilisation of the screening tool included motivation to adhere to standard practice, awareness of screening in targeting testing, and its ability to manage workload through screening out ineligible clients. This was evident across service delivery levels. Barriers included limited healthcare capacity, confidentiality space, multiple screening tools and opaque screening in/out criteria and the potential of clients not responding to screening questions truthfully. Conclusions: Across geographical and service delivery levels, placing screening tools at HIV testing entry points, healthcare worker knowledge on screening in/out criteria emerged as enablers for correct and consistent utilization. Further, standardizing the tools and adopting a decision aid algorithm would improve the accurate utilisation of screening tools.展开更多
Introduction: In India, tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem and there is a growing concern about drug-resistant tuberculosis as most of the patients are from private sector. The National TB Elim...Introduction: In India, tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem and there is a growing concern about drug-resistant tuberculosis as most of the patients are from private sector. The National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) in collaboration with TB Alert, India (TBAI) and Clinton Health Association of India (CHAI) had implemented a collaborative project to strengthen the network between the private practitioners and public healthcare facilities in New Delhi during 2019 and 2020. Methods: A study was conducted to understand the enablers and challenges encountered by them during the implementation of the project. This is a qualitative exploration of the “healthcare providers” on a project linking DR-TB patients in private sector with government health facilities. The process of data collection involved face-to-face in-depth interviews of healthcare providers, the Doctors mainly from private and public health facilities, the paramedical workers from general health system and paramedical from the project using an interview guide administered through a trained researcher. Results: The study findings revealed that all healthcare providers were completely aware of the DOST project in the health system, the model led to early diagnosis and initiation of quality treatment. There were no major challenges to the implementation of the project. The healthcare providers wish to have this project implemented for a longer duration. Conclusion: The perspectives of healthcare providers towards the “DOST” project were optimistic and call for re-initiating the project in the area.展开更多
Tuberculosis (TB), diabetes mellitus and HIV co-morbidity is a rare and interrelated health condition with associated high morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries with high prevalence of TB. It has ...Tuberculosis (TB), diabetes mellitus and HIV co-morbidity is a rare and interrelated health condition with associated high morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries with high prevalence of TB. It has become an emerging concern to epidemiologists and TB control programs due to complexities in its control and management. Managing MDR-TB, DM and HIV comorbidity is challenging, with risk of unfavorable outcome;consequently, close monitoring is necessary. Individuals with weak immunity resulting from diseases such as uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and HIV have a higher risk of developing TB or progression from latent to active TB. We present a 65-year old known diabetic patient who presented to Royal Cross Hospital Ugwueke Abia State, Nigeria with a one-year history of recurrent productive cough with associated night sweats, low grade fever and marked weight loss. A diagnosis of drug-resistant TB with DM/HIV co-morbidity was made and co-managed by experts from the respective clinics and the State TB control program. The patient was declared cured (7 months consecutive negative cultures each taken 30 days apart) after completing 20 months of conventional MDR-TB treatment. The patient showed remarkable clinical improvement including weight gain, good diabetic control and significant increase in CD4 (700 cells). Managing MDR-TB patients with diabetes and HIV is challenging, however, appropriate treatment, psychosocial support, adequate blood sugar control as well as monthly monitoring of patients with requisite investigations are vital in achieving good treatment outcome.展开更多
Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic disease that has impacted negatively on human history. The biology of the mycobacterium tuberculosis is complicated and has affected the control as well as elimination of the disease. Ni...Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic disease that has impacted negatively on human history. The biology of the mycobacterium tuberculosis is complicated and has affected the control as well as elimination of the disease. Nigeria is one of the countries with high incidence and prevalence of TB. The late and low case detection has been a major problem with National TB control program, caused by passive case finding strategy practiced by the country. A shift from the passive and active case search has been recommended for detection of missing cases of TB and improved program performance. The proximity of TB contact is a major determinant of disease transmission. However, maximizing early case detection and prompt treatment of notified cases is very useful in (TB) control especially in high burden countries. The tracking of TB contacts provides a good platform for early diagnosis, educating the household on TB disease and infection control as well as breaking the chain of transmission. The objective of the study is to ascertain effectiveness of contact tracing on Tuberculosis case detection. The study is a retrospective quasi experimental with quantitative arm. The study was conducted in Abia State, one of the South Eastern States of Nigeria. A pre-tested questionnaire was used for data collection and analyzed with SPSS. A total of 168 and 162 index cases of TB were recruited for both intervention and control facilities. The 168 index TB cases yielded 301 TB contacts. The result revealed 55% contact/index ratio, presumptive TB yield of 130 (43.2%) and TB yield of 68 (22.6%). The cases registered in the State increased from 336 to 417 and p value = 0.001, while presumptive TB and BCG vaccination were major predictors. The study shows that tracing contact of index TB cases is an effective and complementary method of finding undetected cases of TB.展开更多
Despite high pneumococcal disease and economic burden in Indonesia and interest to introduce pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), there were challenges in establishing a comprehensive strategy to accelerate and enabl...Despite high pneumococcal disease and economic burden in Indonesia and interest to introduce pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), there were challenges in establishing a comprehensive strategy to accelerate and enable the introduction in country in the early 2010s. Starting in 2017, Clinton Health Access Initiative and partners supported the government of Indonesia with evidence-based decision-making and implementation support for introducing PCV into the routine immunization program. Indonesia has since accelerated PCV roll out, with nationwide reach achieved in 2022. On the path to PCV introduction, several challenges were observed that impacted decision making on whether and on how to optimally roll out PCV, resulting in significant introduction delays;including (1) a complex country context with a devolved government structure, fragmented domestic funding streams, and an imminent transition out of major immunization donor (Gavi) support;(2) strong preference to use domestically sourced products, with limited experience accessing global pooled procurement mechanism including for vaccines;and (3) concerns around programmatic feasibility and sustainability. This case study documents key insights into the challenges experienced and how those were systematically addressed to accelerate new vaccine introduction in Indonesia, with support from local and global stakeholders over time. The learnings would be beneficial for other countries yet to introduce critical new vaccines, in particular those with similar archetype as Indonesia e.g., middle-income countries with domestic manufacturing capacity and/or countries recently transitioning out of Gavi support.展开更多
文摘Background: Zimbabwe recorded a 55% increase in HIV testing from 2011 to 2018 but with decreasing HIV-testing yields from 20% to 6% respectively as we aim to identify the narrowing gap of undiagnosed people living with HIV. As such adoption of screening tools during targeted HIV testing services improves efficiency by identifying individuals who are likely to test positive. Effective utilization of screening tools requires an understanding of health care worker perception and willingness to use the tools. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study among healthcare workers at 8 selected primary healthcare facilities in Zimbabwe. Interviewer-guided, in-depth interviews were conducted with healthcare workers and their immediate supervisors. Thematic analysis was performed following a framework built around the grounded theory model to describe perspectives that influence the utilization of HIV screening tools and suggestions for improved eligibility screening. Results: Behavioural factors facilitating the utilisation of the screening tool included motivation to adhere to standard practice, awareness of screening in targeting testing, and its ability to manage workload through screening out ineligible clients. This was evident across service delivery levels. Barriers included limited healthcare capacity, confidentiality space, multiple screening tools and opaque screening in/out criteria and the potential of clients not responding to screening questions truthfully. Conclusions: Across geographical and service delivery levels, placing screening tools at HIV testing entry points, healthcare worker knowledge on screening in/out criteria emerged as enablers for correct and consistent utilization. Further, standardizing the tools and adopting a decision aid algorithm would improve the accurate utilisation of screening tools.
文摘Introduction: In India, tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem and there is a growing concern about drug-resistant tuberculosis as most of the patients are from private sector. The National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) in collaboration with TB Alert, India (TBAI) and Clinton Health Association of India (CHAI) had implemented a collaborative project to strengthen the network between the private practitioners and public healthcare facilities in New Delhi during 2019 and 2020. Methods: A study was conducted to understand the enablers and challenges encountered by them during the implementation of the project. This is a qualitative exploration of the “healthcare providers” on a project linking DR-TB patients in private sector with government health facilities. The process of data collection involved face-to-face in-depth interviews of healthcare providers, the Doctors mainly from private and public health facilities, the paramedical workers from general health system and paramedical from the project using an interview guide administered through a trained researcher. Results: The study findings revealed that all healthcare providers were completely aware of the DOST project in the health system, the model led to early diagnosis and initiation of quality treatment. There were no major challenges to the implementation of the project. The healthcare providers wish to have this project implemented for a longer duration. Conclusion: The perspectives of healthcare providers towards the “DOST” project were optimistic and call for re-initiating the project in the area.
文摘Tuberculosis (TB), diabetes mellitus and HIV co-morbidity is a rare and interrelated health condition with associated high morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries with high prevalence of TB. It has become an emerging concern to epidemiologists and TB control programs due to complexities in its control and management. Managing MDR-TB, DM and HIV comorbidity is challenging, with risk of unfavorable outcome;consequently, close monitoring is necessary. Individuals with weak immunity resulting from diseases such as uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and HIV have a higher risk of developing TB or progression from latent to active TB. We present a 65-year old known diabetic patient who presented to Royal Cross Hospital Ugwueke Abia State, Nigeria with a one-year history of recurrent productive cough with associated night sweats, low grade fever and marked weight loss. A diagnosis of drug-resistant TB with DM/HIV co-morbidity was made and co-managed by experts from the respective clinics and the State TB control program. The patient was declared cured (7 months consecutive negative cultures each taken 30 days apart) after completing 20 months of conventional MDR-TB treatment. The patient showed remarkable clinical improvement including weight gain, good diabetic control and significant increase in CD4 (700 cells). Managing MDR-TB patients with diabetes and HIV is challenging, however, appropriate treatment, psychosocial support, adequate blood sugar control as well as monthly monitoring of patients with requisite investigations are vital in achieving good treatment outcome.
文摘Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic disease that has impacted negatively on human history. The biology of the mycobacterium tuberculosis is complicated and has affected the control as well as elimination of the disease. Nigeria is one of the countries with high incidence and prevalence of TB. The late and low case detection has been a major problem with National TB control program, caused by passive case finding strategy practiced by the country. A shift from the passive and active case search has been recommended for detection of missing cases of TB and improved program performance. The proximity of TB contact is a major determinant of disease transmission. However, maximizing early case detection and prompt treatment of notified cases is very useful in (TB) control especially in high burden countries. The tracking of TB contacts provides a good platform for early diagnosis, educating the household on TB disease and infection control as well as breaking the chain of transmission. The objective of the study is to ascertain effectiveness of contact tracing on Tuberculosis case detection. The study is a retrospective quasi experimental with quantitative arm. The study was conducted in Abia State, one of the South Eastern States of Nigeria. A pre-tested questionnaire was used for data collection and analyzed with SPSS. A total of 168 and 162 index cases of TB were recruited for both intervention and control facilities. The 168 index TB cases yielded 301 TB contacts. The result revealed 55% contact/index ratio, presumptive TB yield of 130 (43.2%) and TB yield of 68 (22.6%). The cases registered in the State increased from 336 to 417 and p value = 0.001, while presumptive TB and BCG vaccination were major predictors. The study shows that tracing contact of index TB cases is an effective and complementary method of finding undetected cases of TB.
基金This work was made possible through funding support from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
文摘Despite high pneumococcal disease and economic burden in Indonesia and interest to introduce pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), there were challenges in establishing a comprehensive strategy to accelerate and enable the introduction in country in the early 2010s. Starting in 2017, Clinton Health Access Initiative and partners supported the government of Indonesia with evidence-based decision-making and implementation support for introducing PCV into the routine immunization program. Indonesia has since accelerated PCV roll out, with nationwide reach achieved in 2022. On the path to PCV introduction, several challenges were observed that impacted decision making on whether and on how to optimally roll out PCV, resulting in significant introduction delays;including (1) a complex country context with a devolved government structure, fragmented domestic funding streams, and an imminent transition out of major immunization donor (Gavi) support;(2) strong preference to use domestically sourced products, with limited experience accessing global pooled procurement mechanism including for vaccines;and (3) concerns around programmatic feasibility and sustainability. This case study documents key insights into the challenges experienced and how those were systematically addressed to accelerate new vaccine introduction in Indonesia, with support from local and global stakeholders over time. The learnings would be beneficial for other countries yet to introduce critical new vaccines, in particular those with similar archetype as Indonesia e.g., middle-income countries with domestic manufacturing capacity and/or countries recently transitioning out of Gavi support.
