Active case finding among marginalised and vulnerable populations reduces catastrophic costs due to tuberculosis diagnosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is limited evidence on whether active case finding (ACF) among marginalised and vulnerable populations mitigates the financial burden during tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis.

Objectives

To determine the effect of ACF among marginalised and vulnerable populations on prevalence and inequity of catastrophic costs due to TB diagnosis among TB-affected households when compared with passive case finding (PCF).

Methods

In 18 randomly sampled ACF districts in India, during March 2016 to February 2017, we enrolled all new sputum-smear-positive TB patients detected through ACF and an equal number of randomly selected patients detected through PCF. Direct (medical and non-medical) and indirect costs due to TB diagnosis were collected through patient interviews at the

SUBMITTER: Shewade HD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6129780 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature