Gridlock from diagnosis to treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Tanzania: low accessibility of molecular diagnostic services and lack of healthcare worker empowerment in 28 districts of 5 high burden TB regions with mixed methods evaluation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) outcomes are adversely impacted by delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

Mixed qualitative and quantitative approaches were utilized to identify healthcare system related barriers to implementation of molecular diagnostics for MDR-TB. Randomly sampled districts from the 5 highest TB burden regions were enrolled during the 4th quarter of 2016. District TB & Leprosy Coordinators (DTLCs), and District AIDS Coordinators (DACs) were interviewed, along with staff from all laboratories within the selected districts where molecular diagnostics tests for MDR-TB were performed. Furthermore, the 2015 registers were audited for all drug-susceptible but retreatment TB cases and TB collaborative practices in HIV clinics, as these pa

SUBMITTER: Mpagama SG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6458695 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature