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Sputum completion and conversion rates after intensive phase of tuberculosis treatment: an assessment of the Rwandan control program.
- Source :
- BMC Research Notes; 2012, Vol. 5 Issue 1, p357-363, 7p, 1 Diagram, 3 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Background: In Rwanda tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major health problems. To contribute to an improved performance of the Rwandan National TB Control Program, we conducted a study with the following objectives:(1) to assess the completion rate of sputum smear examinations at the end of the intensive phase of TB treatment;(2) to assess the sputum conversion rate (SCR); (3) to assess associations between smear completion rate or SCR with key health facility characteristics. Methods: TB registers in 89 health facilities in five provinces were reviewed. Data of new and retreatment smear positive pulmonary TB (PTB+) cases registered between January and June 2006 were included in the study. Data on key characteristics of the selected health facilities were also collected. Results: Among 1509 new PTB + cases, 32 (2.1%) had died by 2 months, and 178 (11.8%) had been transferred-out. Among the remaining 1299 patients, a smear examination at month 2 was done in 1039 (smear completion rate 80.0%). Among these 1039, 852 (82.0%) had become smear-negative. The smear completion rate and SCR varied considerably between health facilities. A high number of new PTB cases at a health facility was the only significant predictor of a low completion rate, while the only independent factor associated with low sputum conversion rates was rural (vs. urban) location of the health facility.Conclusions: In Rwanda, too few patients get a smear examination after 2 months of TB treatment; the SCR among those with smear results was adequate at 82%. A high number of new TB patients at a health facility was a significant predictor of a low completion rate. The national TB control program should design strategies to improve completion rates [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- SPUTUM
TUBERCULOSIS
MEDICAL care
PUBLIC health
LUNG diseases
HEALTH & welfare funds
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17560500
- Volume :
- 5
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- BMC Research Notes
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 79960177
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-5-357