Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Introduction
Timor-Leste has one of the world's highest estimated tuberculosis (TB) incidences, yet the data which informs this estimate is limited and the true burden of TB disease is not known. TB prevalence surveys offer the best means of determining robust estimates of disease burden. This study aims to provide an estimate of the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB in Timor-Leste and provide additional insights into diagnostic coverage and health-seeking behaviour of persons with symptoms suggestive of TB.Methods and analysis
A national population-based cross-sectional cluster survey will be conducted in which participants aged 15 years and older will be screened for pulmonary TB using an algorithm consisting of symptom screening and digital X-ray of the chest with computer-aided detection software for X-ray interpretation. Xpert Ultra and liquid culture methods will be used to confirm survey TB cases. Additional data will be collected from persons reporting symptoms suggestive of TB to assess health-seeking behaviour and access to TB diagnosis and care. The survey aims to screen a target sample population of 20 068 people, living within 50 clusters, representing every municipality of Timor-Leste. Bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB prevalence will be estimated using WHO-recommended methods.Ethics and dissemination
Research ethics approval has been granted by the human research ethics committee of the Northern Territory, Australia, and the Instituto Nacional da Saúde, Timor-Leste. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and disseminated with relevant stakeholders.Trial registration number
ACTRN12623000718640.
SUBMITTER: Lopes C
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10928736 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Lopes Constantino C Joao Josefina Clarinha JC Lowbridge Christopher C Martins Nelson N Dos Santos Rofina Isabel Gusmão RIG da Silva Endang E Dias Joana J Ramalingam Sureshbabu S Amaral Salvador S Oakley Tessa T Ico Lourenco da Costa LDC Sarmento Nevio N Yan Jennifer J Francis Joshua Reginald JR
BMJ open 20240308 3
<h4>Introduction</h4>Timor-Leste has one of the world's highest estimated tuberculosis (TB) incidences, yet the data which informs this estimate is limited and the true burden of TB disease is not known. TB prevalence surveys offer the best means of determining robust estimates of disease burden. This study aims to provide an estimate of the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB in Timor-Leste and provide additional insights into diagnostic coverage and health-seeking behaviour ...[more]