Where Do Tuberculosis Patients in India Get Treatment?
Author Information
Author(s): Satyanarayana Srinath, Nair Sreenivas Achutan, Chadha Sarabjit Singh, Shivashankar Roopa, Sharma Geetanjali, Yadav Subhash, Mohanty Subrat, Kamineni Vishnuvardhan, Wilson Nevin Charles, Harries Anthony David, Dewan Puneet Kumar
Primary Institution: International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), South-East Asia Regional Office, New Delhi, India
Hypothesis
What proportion of tuberculosis patients access treatment outside the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) in India?
Conclusion
Nearly half of self-reported tuberculosis patients were missed by the TB notification system in the surveyed districts.
Supporting Evidence
- Of the 371,174 household members, 761 TB patients were identified.
- 331 (54%) were taking treatment under DOTS/RNTCP, while 278 (46%) were treated outside.
- Patients accessing treatment outside were more likely to be from rural areas and diagnosed in non-government facilities.
Takeaway
The study found that many people with tuberculosis in India are not getting the help they need from the official health program, especially those living in rural areas.
Methodology
A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted in 30 districts, identifying TB patients through door-to-door surveys and semi-structured questionnaires.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on self-reported data and incomplete clinical records for some patients.
Limitations
The study is not nationally representative and relies on self-reported data, which may miss undiagnosed cases or those unwilling to disclose their status.
Participant Demographics
64% male, 73% aged 25-54 years, 43% illiterate, 80% from households earning less than INR 4000 per month.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.021
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 42–66%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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