Assisted TB Information System within the Private Sector to Improve Case Notification in Kenya

Abstract

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern causing over a billion deaths in the last 200 years. Several countries have been affected, with the incidence projected to increase due to COVID-19. The WHO's global strategy to End TB recommends several strategies to support global efforts, including engaging private facilities to diagnose and treat TB.

TB reporting and documentation remain a challenge, with gaps between the number of new cases and the number reported/under-reported due to a mixture of underreporting and underdiagnoses. In Kenya, patient pathway analysis reveals that patients sought care in formal and informal private hospitals. However, underreporting TB notification among private facilities has not yet been systemically evaluated.

This study targeted private facilities in Meru, Mombasa, Kilifi, Nyeri, and Kirinyaga counties to assess actual levels of TB underreporting, improvement in TB yield with strategic support, and patient characteristics.

Study findings show low screening for TB. However, the strategic management of private facilities resulted in increased case notification, especially among children and men.

The researcher recommends the need to strengthen reporting of data by age and gender. The author also proposes prospective research while collecting age and gender data to inform the actual situation based on identified gaps.