Decentralising drug-resistant TB treatment initiation services.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) care coordination in Nigeria remains largely centralised, negatively impacting pre-treatment loss-to-follow-up (PTLTFU) and time-to-treatment initiation. We piloted a multi-faceted intervention and documented how the decentralisation of DR-TB services affected treatment enrolment and time-to-treatment initiation.

Methods

A quasi-experimental study was conducted in Southern Nigeria. Multi-level intervention consisting of eight components was implemented in the intervention states over a 15-month period. Data were collected using desk review proformas and analysed.

Results

At baseline, comparable proportions of people with DR-TB initiated treatment (χ² = 3.150, P = 0.076). Following decentralisation, a higher propor

SUBMITTER: Murphy-Okpala N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12699969 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature