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Purohit VS, Karvande SS, Shah DY, Vallepawar OB, Yadav OJ, Mistry NF. Engagement and Preparedness of Urban Accredited Social Health Activists (U-ASHAs) for Delivery of Tuberculosis (TB) Care: Findings From two Cities in Maharashtra, India. Indian J Community Med 2025; 50:225-229. [PMID: 40124825 PMCID: PMC11927830 DOI: 10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_744_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2025] Open
Abstract
Finding missing tuberculosis (TB) cases from the "under-reached" population of urban slums and connecting them with TB services is a priority and ongoing challenge for India. It requires the effective engagement of community health workers including urban Accredited Social Health Activists (U-ASHAs). The study aimed to understand the current engagement of U-ASHAs in TB care and their commensurate preparedness in terms of TB knowledge and training. An exploratory study was conducted in Mumbai and Pune cities of Maharashtra during 2022-23. The study used a mixed-methods approach, including a semi-structured survey of U-ASHAs (n = 222) and in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders (n = 33). The statistical analysis used was descriptive statistics using MS Excel. The average age and work experience of U-ASHAs were 35.4 (21-50) years and 2.7 (0.5-6) years, respectively. They considered maternal child health services as their main portfolio and TB as an ancillary program. They were mainly involved in a biannual active case finding (ACF) and were recently envisioned as TB treatment supporters with poor clarity about other roles in TB care. Just half-day training for TB as part of 8-day general induction training, brief updates before ACFs, and the absence of an on-the-job supervisory structure resulted in TB knowledge gaps particularly for the latest diagnostic tests, adverse drug reactions, government schemes for TB patients, and contact tracing. Conclusions: Intermittent TB activities coupled with insufficient training impede U-ASHAs' functionality in TB care. Clarity of TB-related roles, integration of TB activities in daily tasks, comprehensive training, and on-the-job supervisory structures have merit in strengthening U-ASHAs' engagement in urban TB care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidula S. Purohit
- Community Health Division, Foundation for Medical Research, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | | | - Daksha Y. Shah
- Public Health Department, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | | | - Omprakash J. Yadav
- Public Health Department, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Nerges F. Mistry
- Community Health Division, Foundation for Medical Research, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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Nguyen HB, Vo LNQ, Forse RJ, Wiemers AMC, Huynh HB, Dong TTT, Phan YTH, Creswell J, Dang TMH, Nguyen LH, Shedrawy J, Lönnroth K, Nguyen TD, Dinh LV, Annerstedt KS, Codlin AJ. Is convenience really king? Comparative evaluation of catastrophic costs due to tuberculosis in the public and private healthcare sectors of Viet Nam: a longitudinal patient cost study. Infect Dis Poverty 2024; 13:27. [PMID: 38528604 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-024-01196-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Viet Nam, tuberculosis (TB) represents a devastating life-event with an exorbitant price tag, partly due to lost income from daily directly observed therapy in public sector care. Thus, persons with TB may seek care in the private sector for its flexibility, convenience, and privacy. Our study aimed to measure income changes, costs and catastrophic cost incurrence among TB-affected households in the public and private sector. METHODS Between October 2020 and March 2022, we conducted 110 longitudinal patient cost interviews, among 50 patients privately treated for TB and 60 TB patients treated by the National TB Program (NTP) in Ha Noi, Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Using a local adaptation of the WHO TB patient cost survey tool, participants were interviewed during the intensive phase, continuation phase and post-treatment. We compared income levels, direct and indirect treatment costs, catastrophic costs using Wilcoxon rank-sum and chi-squared tests and associated risk factors between the two cohorts using multivariate regression. RESULTS The pre-treatment median monthly household income was significantly higher in the private sector versus NTP cohort (USD 868 vs USD 578; P = 0.010). However, private sector treatment was also significantly costlier (USD 2075 vs USD 1313; P = 0.005), driven by direct medical costs which were 4.6 times higher than costs reported by NTP participants (USD 754 vs USD 164; P < 0.001). This resulted in no significant difference in catastrophic costs between the two cohorts (Private: 55% vs NTP: 52%; P = 0.675). Factors associated with catastrophic cost included being a single-person household [adjusted odds ratio (aOR = 13.71; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36-138.14; P = 0.026], unemployment during treatment (aOR = 10.86; 95% CI: 2.64-44.60; P < 0.001) and experiencing TB-related stigma (aOR = 37.90; 95% CI: 1.72-831.73; P = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS Persons with TB in Viet Nam face similarly high risk of catastrophic costs whether treated in the public or private sector. Patient costs could be reduced through expanded insurance reimbursement to minimize direct medical costs in the private sector, use of remote monitoring and multi-week/month dosing strategies to avert economic costs in the public sector and greater access to social protection mechanism in general.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luan Nguyen Quang Vo
- Friends for International TB Relief, Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
- Department of Global Public Health, WHO Collaboration Centre On Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Rachel Jeanette Forse
- Friends for International TB Relief, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
- Department of Global Public Health, WHO Collaboration Centre On Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Huy Ba Huynh
- Friends for International TB Relief, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jad Shedrawy
- Department of Global Public Health, WHO Collaboration Centre On Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Knut Lönnroth
- Department of Global Public Health, WHO Collaboration Centre On Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Kristi Sidney Annerstedt
- Department of Global Public Health, WHO Collaboration Centre On Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andrew James Codlin
- Friends for International TB Relief, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
- Department of Global Public Health, WHO Collaboration Centre On Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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Quang Vo LN, Forse RJ, Tran J, Dam T, Driscoll J, Codlin AJ, Creswell J, Sidney-Annerstedt K, Van Truong V, Thi Minh HD, Huu LN, Nguyen HB, Nguyen NV. Economic evaluation of a community health worker model for tuberculosis care in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam: a mixed-methods Social Return on Investment Analysis. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:945. [PMID: 37231468 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15841-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is extensive evidence for the cost-effectiveness of programmatic and additional tuberculosis (TB) interventions, but no studies have employed the social return on investment (SROI) methodology. We conducted a SROI analysis to measure the benefits of a community health worker (CHW) model for active TB case finding and patient-centered care. METHODS This mixed-method study took place alongside a TB intervention implemented in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, between October-2017 - September-2019. The valuation encompassed beneficiary, health system and societal perspectives over a 5-year time-horizon. We conducted a rapid literature review, two focus group discussions and 14 in-depth interviews to identify and validate pertinent stakeholders and material value drivers. We compiled quantitative data from the TB program's and the intervention's surveillance systems, ecological databases, scientific publications, project accounts and 11 beneficiary surveys. We mapped, quantified and monetized value drivers to derive a crude financial benefit, which was adjusted for four counterfactuals. We calculated a SROI based on the net present value (NPV) of benefits and investments using a discounted cash flow model with a discount rate of 3.5%. A scenario analysis assessed SROI at varying discount rates of 0-10%. RESULTS The mathematical model yielded NPVs of US$235,511 in investments and US$8,497,183 in benefits. This suggested a return of US$36.08 for each dollar invested, ranging from US$31.66-US39.00 for varying discount rate scenarios. CONCLUSIONS The evaluated CHW-based TB intervention generated substantial individual and societal benefits. The SROI methodology may be an alternative for the economic evaluation of healthcare interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luan Nguyen Quang Vo
- Friends for International TB Relief, 6th Floor, 1/21 Le Van Luong St., Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
| | - Rachel Jeanette Forse
- Friends for International TB Relief, 6th Floor, 1/21 Le Van Luong St., Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Jacqueline Tran
- Friends for International TB Relief, 6th Floor, 1/21 Le Van Luong St., Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Thu Dam
- Friends for International TB Relief, 6th Floor, 1/21 Le Van Luong St., Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Jenny Driscoll
- Friends for International TB Relief, 6th Floor, 1/21 Le Van Luong St., Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Andrew James Codlin
- Friends for International TB Relief, 6th Floor, 1/21 Le Van Luong St., Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | | | - Kristi Sidney-Annerstedt
- Department of Global Public Health, WHO Collaboration Centre on Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
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Wang Y, Huang Z, Chen H, Yuan Y, McNeil EB, Lu X, Zhang A. The Association Between Household Financial Burden and Patient Mobility and Their Impact on Loss to Follow-Up Among Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients in Guizhou, China. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2023; 16:909-919. [PMID: 37220483 PMCID: PMC10200133 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s400667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose We aimed to assess the household financial burden due to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment and its predictors, examine its association with patient mobility, and test their impact on patient loss to follow-up (LTFU). Methods A cross-sectional study combining follow-up data collection was conducted at the largest designated MDR-TB hospital in Guizhou. Data were collected from medical records and questionnaires. Household financial burden was measured by the incidence of 2 indicators: catastrophic total costs (CTC) and catastrophic health expenditure (CHE). Mobility was classified as mover or non-mover after the patient's address was verified twice. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify associations between variables. Model I and Model II were separated by CHE and CTC. Results Out of 180 households, the incidence of CHE and CTC was 51.7% and 80.6%, respectively. Families with low income and patients who were primary income earners were significantly associated with catastrophic costs. 42.8% of patients were movers. Patients from households with CHE (ORadj=2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.1) or with CTC (ORadj=2.6, 95% CI: 1.1-6.3) were more likely to move. Finding a job against financial difficulty (58.4%) was the top reason for movers. 20.0% of patients experienced LTFU. Patients from households with catastrophic payments (CHE: ORadj=4.1, 95% CI 1.6-10.5 in Model I; CTC: ORadj=4.8, 95% CI 1.0-22.9 in Model II), patients who were movers (ORadj=6.1, 95% CI 2.5-14.8 in Model I; ORadj=7.4, 95% CI 3.0-18.7 in Model II) and primary income earners (ORadj=2.5, 95% CI: 1.0-5.9 in Model I; ORadj=2.7, 95% CI 1.1-6.6 in Model II) had an increased risk of LTFU. Conclusion There is a significant association between household financial burden due to MDR-TB treatment and patient mobility in Guizhou. They impact patients' treatment adherence and cause LTFU. Being a primary breadwinner increases the risk for catastrophic household payments and LTFU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhongfeng Huang
- Department of Tuberculosis, Guiyang Public Health Clinical Center, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huijuan Chen
- Department of Tuberculosis Prevention and Control, Guizhou Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ye Yuan
- Department of Tuberculosis, Guiyang Public Health Clinical Center, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Edward B McNeil
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health and Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaolong Lu
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Aihua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
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Odhiambo AJ, O'Campo P, Nelson LRE, Forman L, Grace D. Structural violence and the uncertainty of viral undetectability for African, Caribbean and Black people living with HIV in Canada: an institutional ethnography. Int J Equity Health 2023; 22:33. [PMID: 36797746 PMCID: PMC9935247 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-022-01792-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomedical advances in healthcare and antiretroviral treatment or therapy (ART) have transformed HIV/AIDS from a death sentence to a manageable chronic disease. Studies demonstrate that people living with HIV who adhere to antiretroviral therapy can achieve viral suppression or undetectability, which is fundamental for optimizing health outcomes, decreasing HIV-related mortality and morbidity, and preventing HIV transmission. African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities in Canada remain structurally disadvantaged and bear a disproportionate burden of HIV despite biomedical advancements in HIV treatment and prevention. This institutional ethnography orients to the concept of 'structural violence' to illuminate how inequities shape the daily experiences of ACB people living with HIV across the HIV care cascade. We conducted textual analysis and in-depth interviews with ACB people living with HIV (n = 20) and health professionals including healthcare providers, social workers, frontline workers, and health policy actors (n = 15). Study findings produce a cumulative understanding that biomedical HIV discourses and practices ignore structural violence embedded in Canada's social fabric, including legislation, policies and institutional practices that produce inequities and shape the social world of Black communities. Findings show that inequities in structural and social determinants of health such as food insecurity, financial and housing instability, homelessness, precarious immigration status, stigma, racial discrimination, anti-Black racism, criminalization of HIV non-disclosure, health systems barriers and privacy concerns intersect to constrain engagement and retention in HIV healthcare and ART adherence, contributing to the uncertainty of achieving and maintaining undetectability and violating their right to health. Biomedical discourses and practices, and inequities reduce Black people to a stigmatized, pathologized, and impoverished detectable viral underclass. Black people perceived as nonadherent to ART and maintain detectable viral loads are considered "bad" patients while privileged individuals who achieve undetectability are considered "good" patients. An effective response to ending HIV/AIDS requires implementing policies and institutional practices that address inequities in structural and social determinants of health among ACB people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apondi J Odhiambo
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Patricia O'Campo
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- St, Michael's Hospital, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - La Ron E Nelson
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- St, Michael's Hospital, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lisa Forman
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Grace
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Vo LNQ, Nguyen VN, Nguyen NTT, Dong TTT, Codlin A, Forse R, Truong HT, Nguyen HB, Dang HTM, Truong VV, Nguyen LH, Mac TH, Le PT, Tran KT, Ndunda N, Caws M, Creswell J. Optimising diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis infection in community and primary care settings in two urban provinces of Viet Nam: a cohort study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e071537. [PMID: 36759036 PMCID: PMC9923314 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To end tuberculosis (TB), the vast reservoir of 1.7-2.3 billion TB infections (TBIs) must be addressed, but achieving global TB preventive therapy (TPT) targets seems unlikely. This study assessed the feasibility of using interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) at lower healthcare levels and the comparative performance of 3-month and 9-month daily TPT regimens (3HR/9H). DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION This cohort study was implemented in two provinces of Viet Nam from May 2019 to September 2020. Participants included household contacts (HHCs), vulnerable community members and healthcare workers (HCWs) recruited at community-based TB screening events or HHC investigations at primary care centres, who were followed up throughout TPT. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES We constructed TBI care cascades describing indeterminate and positivity rates to assess feasibility, and initiation and completion rates to assess performance. We fitted mixed-effects logistic and stratified Cox models to identify factors associated with IGRA positivity and loss to follow-up (LTFU). RESULTS Among 5837 participants, the indeterminate rate was 0.8%, and 30.7% were IGRA positive. TPT initiation and completion rates were 63.3% (3HR=61.2% vs 9H=63.6%; p=0.147) and 80.6% (3HR=85.7% vs 9H=80.0%; p=0.522), respectively. Being male (adjusted OR=1.51; 95% CI: 1.28 to 1.78; p<0.001), aged 45-59 years (1.30; 1.05 to 1.60; p=0.018) and exhibiting TB-related abnormalities on X-ray (2.23; 1.38 to 3.61; p=0.001) were associated with positive IGRA results. Risk of IGRA positivity was lower in periurban districts (0.55; 0.36 to 0.85; p=0.007), aged <15 years (0.18; 0.13 to 0.26; p<0.001), aged 15-29 years (0.56; 0.42 to 0.75; p<0.001) and HCWs (0.34; 0.24 to 0.48; p<0.001). The 3HR regimen (adjusted HR=3.83; 1.49 to 9.84; p=0.005) and HCWs (1.38; 1.25 to 1.53; p<0.001) showed higher hazards of LTFU. CONCLUSION Providing IGRAs at lower healthcare levels is feasible and along with shorter regimens may expand access and uptake towards meeting TPT targets, but scale-up may require complementary advocacy and education for beneficiaries and providers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Andrew Codlin
- Friends for International TB Relief, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Rachel Forse
- TB Programs, Friends for International TB Relief, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
- Department of Global Public Health, The Health and Social Protection Action Research & Knowledge Sharing network (SPARKS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Khoa Tu Tran
- Friends for International TB Relief, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | | | - Maxine Caws
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
- Birat Nepal Medical Trust, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Oh AL, Makmor-Bakry M, Islahudin F, Wong IC. Prevalence and predictive factors of tuberculosis treatment interruption in the Asia region: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e010592. [PMID: 36650014 PMCID: PMC9853156 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tuberculosis (TB) treatment interruption remains a critical challenge leading to poor treatment outcomes. Two-thirds of global new TB cases are mostly contributed by Asian countries, prompting systematic analysis of predictors for treatment interruption due to the variable findings. METHODS Articles published from 2012 to 2021 were searched through seven databases. Studies that established the relationship for risk factors of TB treatment interruption among adult Asian were included. Relevant articles were screened, extracted and appraised using Joanna Briggs Institute's checklists for cohort, case-control and cross-sectional study designs by three reviewers. Meta-analysis was performed using the random effect model in Review Manager software. The pooled prevalence and predictors of treatment interruption were expressed in ORs with 95% CIs; heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. The publication bias was visually inspected using the funnel plot. RESULTS Fifty eligible studies (658 304 participants) from 17 Asian countries were included. The overall pooled prevalence of treatment interruption was 17% (95% CI 16% to 18%), the highest in Southern Asia (22% (95% CI 16% to 29%)), followed by Eastern Asia (18% (95% CI 16% to 20%)) and South East Asia (16% (95% CI 4% to 28%)). Seven predictors were identified to increase the risk of treatment interruption, namely, male gender (OR 1.38 (95% CI 1.26 to 1.51)), employment (OR 1.43 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.84)), alcohol intake (OR 2.24 (95% CI 1.58 to 3.18)), smoking (OR 2.74 (95% CI 1.98 to 3.78)), HIV-positive (OR 1.50 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.96)), adverse drug reactions (OR 2.01 (95% CI 1.20 to 3.34)) and previously treated cases (OR 1.77 (95% CI 1.39 to 2.26)). All predictors demonstrated substantial heterogeneity except employment and HIV status with no publication bias. CONCLUSION The identification of predictors for TB treatment interruption enables strategised planning and collective intervention to be targeted at the high-risk groups to strengthen TB care and control in the Asia region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai Ling Oh
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Makmor-Bakry
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Farida Islahudin
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ian Ck Wong
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Research Department of Practice and Policy, School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Dam TA, Forse RJ, Tran PMT, Vo LNQ, Codlin AJ, Nguyen LP, Creswell J. What makes community health worker models for tuberculosis active case finding work? A cross-sectional study of TB REACH projects to identify success factors for increasing case notifications. HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH 2022; 20:25. [PMID: 35279166 PMCID: PMC8917377 DOI: 10.1186/s12960-022-00708-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the field of tuberculosis (TB), Community Healthcare Workers (CHWs) have been engaged for advocacy, case detection, and patient support in a wide range of settings. Estimates predict large-scale shortfalls of healthcare workers in low- and middle-income settings by 2030 and strategies are needed to optimize the health workforce to achieve universal availability and accessibility of healthcare. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) published guidelines on best practices for CHW engagement, and identified remaining knowledge gaps. Stop TB Partnership's TB REACH initiative has supported interventions using CHWs to deliver TB care in over 30 countries, and utilized the same primary indicator to measure project impact at the population-level for all TB active case finding projects, which makes the results comparable across multiple settings. This study compiled 10 years of implementation data from the initiative's grantee network to begin to address key knowledge gaps in CHW networks. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study analyzing the TB REACH data repository (n = 123) and primary survey responses (n = 50) of project implementers. We designed a survey based on WHO guidelines to understand projects' practices on CHW recruitment, training, activities, supervision, compensation, and sustainability. We segmented projects by TB notification impact and fitted linear random-effect regression models to identify practices associated with higher changes in notifications. RESULTS Most projects employed CHWs for advocacy alongside case finding and holding activities. Model characteristics associated with higher project impact included incorporating e-learning in training and having the prospect of CHWs continuing their responsibilities at the close of a project. Factors that trended towards being associated with higher impact were community-based training, differentiated contracts, and non-monetary incentives. CONCLUSION In line with WHO guidelines, our findings emphasize that successful implementation approaches provide CHWs with comprehensive training, continuous supervision, fair compensation, and are integrated within the existing primary healthcare system. However, we encountered a great degree of heterogeneity in CHW engagement models, resulting in few practices clearly associated with higher notifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thu A Dam
- Friends for International TB Relief, 1/21 Le Van Luong St., Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Rachel J Forse
- Friends for International TB Relief, 1/21 Le Van Luong St., Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, Vietnam.
- Department of Global Public Health, WHO Collaboration Centre on Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 1, 171 77, Solna, Sweden.
| | - Phuong M T Tran
- Friends for International TB Relief, 1/21 Le Van Luong St., Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Luan N Q Vo
- Friends for International TB Relief, 1/21 Le Van Luong St., Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, Vietnam
- IRD VN, 68B Nguyen Van Troi, Ward 8, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Andrew J Codlin
- Friends for International TB Relief, 1/21 Le Van Luong St., Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Lan P Nguyen
- Centre for Development of Community Health Initiatives, 1/21 Le Van Luong St., Nhan Chin Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Jacob Creswell
- Stop TB Partnership, Chemin du Pommier 40, 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland
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Ayabina DV, Gomes MGM, Nguyen NV, Vo L, Shreshta S, Thapa A, Codlin AJ, Mishra G, Caws M. The impact of active case finding on transmission dynamics of tuberculosis: A modelling study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257242. [PMID: 34797864 PMCID: PMC8604297 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the last decade, active case finding (ACF) strategies for tuberculosis (TB) have been implemented in many diverse settings, with some showing large increases in case detection and reporting at the sub-national level. There have also been several studies which seek to provide evidence for the benefits of ACF to individuals and communities in the broader context. However, there remains no quantification of the impact of ACF with regards to reducing the burden of transmission. We sought to address this knowledge gap and quantify the potential impact of active case finding on reducing transmission of TB at the national scale and further, to determine the intensification of intervention efforts required to bring the reproduction number (R0) below 1 for TB. Methods We adopt a dynamic transmission model that incorporates heterogeneity in risk to TB to assess the impact of an ACF programme (IMPACT TB) on reducing TB incidence in Vietnam and Nepal. We fit the models to country-level incidence data using a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach. We assess the impact of ACF using a parameter in our model, which we term the treatment success rate. Using programmatic data, we estimate how much this parameter has increased as a result of IMPACT TB in the implementation districts of Vietnam and Nepal and quantify additional efforts needed to eliminate transmission of TB in these countries by 2035. Results Extending the IMPACT TB programme to national coverage would lead to moderate decreases in TB incidence and would not be enough to interrupt transmission by 2035. Decreasing transmission sufficiently to bring the reproduction number (R0) below 1, would require a further intensification of current efforts, even at the sub-national level. Conclusions Active case finding programmes are effective in reducing TB in the short term. However, interruption of transmission in high-burden countries, like Vietnam and Nepal, will require comprehensive incremental efforts. Complementary measures to reduce progression from infection to disease, and reactivation of latent infection, are needed to meet the WHO End TB incidence targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diepreye Victoria Ayabina
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - M. Gabriela M. Gomes
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investiga¸c˜ao em Biodiversidade e Recursos Gen´eticos, and CMUP, Centro de Matem´atica da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nhung Viet Nguyen
- National Tuberculosis Control Programme of Vietnam- National Lung Hospital (VNTP-NLH), Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Luan Vo
- Friends for International TB Relief (FIT), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | | | - Anil Thapa
- National TB Control Centre, Thimi, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | - Gokul Mishra
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Birat Nepal Medical Trust, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Maxine Caws
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Birat Nepal Medical Trust, Kathmandu, Nepal
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10
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Curry JS, Abdelbary B, García-Viveros M, Garcia JI, Yotebieng M, Rendon A, Torrelles JB, Restrepo BI. South to North Migration Patterns of Tuberculosis Patients Diagnosed in the Mexican Border with Texas. J Immigr Minor Health 2021; 24:1113-1121. [PMID: 34664155 PMCID: PMC8522865 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-021-01294-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The Mexican state of Tamaulipas serves as a migration waypoint into the US. Here, we determined the contribution of immigrants to TB burden in Tamaulipas. TB surveillance data from Tamaulipas (2006-2013) was used to conduct a cross-sectional characterization of TB immigrants (born outside Tamaulipas) and identify their association with TB treatment outcomes. Immigrants comprised 30.8% of TB patients, with > 99% originating from internal Mexican migration. Most migration was from South to North, with cities adjacent to the US border as destinations. Immigrants had higher odds of risk factors for TB [older age (≥ 65 year old, OR 2.4, 95% CI 2.1, 2.8), low education (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.2, 1.4), diabetes (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1, 1.4)], or abandoning treatment (adjusted OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0, 1.5). There is a need to identify strategies to prevent TB more effectively in Tamaulipas, a Mexican migration waypoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer S Curry
- School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Brownsville campus, Brownsville, TX, USA
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Bassent Abdelbary
- School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Brownsville campus, Brownsville, TX, USA
- College of Health Professions, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, USA
| | | | - Juan Ignacio Garcia
- Population Health Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Marcel Yotebieng
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Adrian Rendon
- Centro de Investigación, Prevención y Tratamiento de Infecciones Respiratorias CIPTIR, University Hospital of Monterrey, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Jordi B Torrelles
- Population Health Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Blanca I Restrepo
- School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Brownsville campus, Brownsville, TX, USA.
- School of Medicine, South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, USA.
- UTRGV-Edinburg Campus, 1214 W Schunior, Edinburg, TX, USA.
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11
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Vo LNQ, Codlin AJ, Forse RJ, Nguyen NT, Vu TN, Le GT, Van Truong V, Do GC, Dang HM, Nguyen LH, Nguyen HB, Nguyen NV, Levy J, Lonnroth K, Squire SB, Caws M. Evaluating the yield of systematic screening for tuberculosis among three priority groups in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Infect Dis Poverty 2020; 9:166. [PMID: 33292638 PMCID: PMC7724701 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-020-00766-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In order to end tuberculosis (TB), it is necessary to expand coverage of TB care services, including systematic screening initiatives. However, more evidence is needed for groups among whom systematic screening is only conditionally recommended by the World Health Organization. This study evaluated concurrent screening in multiple target groups using community health workers (CHW). METHODS In our two-year intervention study lasting from October 2017 to September 2019, CHWs in six districts of Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam verbally screened three urban priority groups: (1) household TB contacts; (2) close TB contacts; and (3) residents of urban priority areas without clear documented exposure to TB including hotspots, boarding homes and urban slums. Eligible persons were referred for further screening with chest radiography and follow-on testing with the Xpert MTB/RIF assay. Symptomatic individuals with normal or without radiography results were tested on smear microscopy. We described the TB care cascade and characteristics for each priority group, and calculated yield and number needed to screen. Subsequently, we fitted a mixed-effect logistic regression to identify the association of these target groups and secondary patient covariates with TB treatment initiation. RESULTS We verbally screened 321 020 people including 24 232 household contacts, 3182 social and close contacts and 293 606 residents of urban priority areas. This resulted in 1138 persons treated for TB, of whom 85 were household contacts, 39 were close contacts and 1014 belonged to urban priority area residents. The yield of active TB in these groups was 351, 1226 and 345 per 100 000, respectively, corresponding to numbers needed to screen of 285, 82 and 290. The fitted model showed that close contacts [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.38-3.11; P < 0.001] and urban priority area residents (aOR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.69-2.79; P < 0.001) had a greater risk of active TB than household contacts. CONCLUSIONS The study detected a large number of unreached persons with TB, but most of them were not among persons in contact with an index patient. Therefore, while programs should continue to optimize screening in contacts, to close the detection gap in high TB burden settings such as Viet Nam, coverage must be expanded to persons without documented exposure such as residents in hotspots, boarding homes and urban slums.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luan Nguyen Quang Vo
- Friends for International TB Relief, 68B Nguyen Van Troi, 8, Phu Nhuan, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
- Interactive Research and Development, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
| | - Andrew James Codlin
- Friends for International TB Relief, 68B Nguyen Van Troi, 8, Phu Nhuan, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Rachel Jeanette Forse
- Friends for International TB Relief, 68B Nguyen Van Troi, 8, Phu Nhuan, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Nga Thuy Nguyen
- Friends for International TB Relief, 68B Nguyen Van Troi, 8, Phu Nhuan, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Thanh Nguyen Vu
- Ho Chi Minh City Public Health Association, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Giang Truong Le
- Ho Chi Minh City Public Health Association, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | | | - Giang Chau Do
- Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Ha Minh Dang
- Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | | | | | | | - Jens Levy
- KNCV Tuberculosefonds, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Knut Lonnroth
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - S Bertel Squire
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Maxine Caws
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
- Birat Nepal Medical Trust, Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal
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12
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Vo LNQ, Forse RJ, Codlin AJ, Vu TN, Le GT, Do GC, Van Truong V, Dang HM, Nguyen LH, Nguyen HB, Nguyen NV, Levy J, Squire B, Lonnroth K, Caws M. A comparative impact evaluation of two human resource models for community-based active tuberculosis case finding in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:934. [PMID: 32539700 PMCID: PMC7296629 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09042-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To achieve the WHO End TB Strategy targets, it is necessary to detect and treat more people with active TB early. Scale–up of active case finding (ACF) may be one strategy to achieve that goal. Given human resource constraints in the health systems of most high TB burden countries, volunteer community health workers (CHW) have been widely used to economically scale up TB ACF. However, more evidence is needed on the most cost-effective compensation models for these CHWs and their potential impact on case finding to inform optimal scale-up policies. Methods We conducted a two-year, controlled intervention study in 12 districts of Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. We engaged CHWs as salaried employees (3 districts) or incentivized volunteers (3 districts) to conduct ACF among contacts of people with TB and urban priority groups. Eligible persons were asked to attend health services for radiographic screening and rapid molecular diagnosis or smear microscopy. Individuals diagnosed with TB were linked to appropriate care. Six districts providing routine NTP care served as control area. We evaluated additional cases notified and conducted comparative interrupted time series (ITS) analyses to assess the impact of ACF by human resource model on TB case notifications. Results We verbally screened 321,020 persons in the community, of whom 70,439 were eligible for testing and 1138 of them started TB treatment. ACF activities resulted in a + 15.9% [95% CI: + 15.0%, + 16.7%] rise in All Forms TB notifications in the intervention areas compared to control areas. The ITS analyses detected significant positive post-intervention trend differences in All Forms TB notification rates between the intervention and control areas (p = 0.001), as well as between the employee and volunteer human resource models (p = 0.021). Conclusions Both salaried and volunteer CHW human resource models demonstrated additionality in case notifications compared to routine case finding by the government TB program. The salaried employee CHW model achieved a greater impact on notifications and should be prioritized for scale-up, given sufficient resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luan Nguyen Quang Vo
- Friends for International TB Relief, 68B Nguyen Van Troi, 8, Phu Nhuan, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. .,Interactive Research and Development, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
| | - Rachel Jeanette Forse
- Friends for International TB Relief, 68B Nguyen Van Troi, 8, Phu Nhuan, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Andrew James Codlin
- Friends for International TB Relief, 68B Nguyen Van Troi, 8, Phu Nhuan, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Thanh Nguyen Vu
- Ho Chi Minh City Public Health Association, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Giang Truong Le
- Ho Chi Minh City Public Health Association, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Giang Chau Do
- Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | | | - Ha Minh Dang
- Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | | | | | | | - Jens Levy
- KNCV Tuberculosefonds, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Bertie Squire
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool, UK
| | - Knut Lonnroth
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Global Public Health, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maxine Caws
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool, UK.,Birat Nepal Medical Trust, Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal
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