Evaluation of tuberculosis control programme in Khartoum State for the year 2006

Tuberculosis (TB) is among the top ten causes of global mortality. Sudan is among the countries with high TB prevalence; with an estimated incidence of 90/100,000 smear-positive cases. In 1993, the Khartoum State tuberculosis control programme was established. Since its establishment, however, the programme has never been adequately assessed.

To evaluate and describe the tuberculosis control programme in Khartoum State, Sudan in 2006; to find out if the programme achieved its global targeted goals; and to identify the challenges and needs for performing a good standard tuberculosis control programme.

A descriptive cross-sectional and retrospective study design was used. The study population was tuberculosis control departments at the levels of the state (n = 1), localities (n = 7), health areas (n = 19) and health facilities (n = 42). Records review and group interviews were used to collect the required data.

The study found that the TB control programme in Khartoum State achieved a 77.2% case detection rate of the smear-postive cases, and 73.5% treatment success rate, and a case fatality rate of 2.2%, treatment failure rate of 2.2%, and default rate of 14.1%. There was no system to detect the prevalence of MDR-TB (multi-drug resistant TB) or HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) among the TB cases. The programme was not well implemented at locality or health area levels. Conversely, drugs and laboratory supply systems were functioning well.

The tuberculosis control programme in Khartoum State is centralized, not updated, and does not achieve the targeted goals.