Measuring and addressing the childhood tuberculosis reporting gaps in Pakistan: The first ever national inventory study among children.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Tuberculosis in children may be difficult to diagnose and is often not reported to routine surveillance systems. Understanding and addressing the tuberculosis (TB) case detection and reporting gaps strengthens national routine TB surveillance systems.

Objective

The present study aimed to measure the percentage of childhood TB cases that are diagnosed but not reported to the national surveillance system in Pakistan.

Design

The study design was cross sectional. The study was nationwide in 12 selected districts across Pakistan, each representing a cluster. Health facilities that diagnose and treat childhood TB from all sectors were mapped and invited to participate. Lists of child TB cases were created for the study period (April-June 2016) from all study fa

SUBMITTER: Fatima R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6936771 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature