Performance of decentralised facilities in tuberculosis case notification and treatment success in Armenia

Public Health Action. 2014 Oct 21;4(Suppl 2):S13-6. doi: 10.5588/pha.14.0038.

Abstract

We assessed the performance of decentralised tuberculosis (TB) out-patient centres in tuberculosis (TB) case notification and treatment success in Armenia. An average threshold case notification of ⩾37/100 000 was seen in centres that had higher numbers of presumptive TB patients, where more TB was diagnosed by in-patient facilities and where TB contacts were examined. The number of doctors and/or TB specialists at centres did not influence case notification. Onsite smear microscopy was significantly associated with a treatment success rate of ⩾85% for new TB patients. Addressing specific characteristics of TB centres associated with lower case notification and treatment success and optimising their location may improve performance.

Keywords: SORT IT; TB incidence; TB out-patient treatment; TB prevalence; operational research.