Non-clinical factors associated with TB: important for DOTS impact evaluation and disease elimination

Initial optimism that DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) would have a dramatic effect on TB incidence rates in developing countries has not been supported by the evidence accumulated so far. Indeed, where TB incidence rates have decreased, non-clinical socio-economic factors appear to have played at least as great a role. We postulate that in those settings with little or no decrease in TB incidence, there are likely to be common pathway blockages that interfere with the effectiveness of DOTS implementation as socio-economic factors evolve. Measuring socio-economic trends, as well as DOTS implementation, is important for understanding TB control and opens up the opportunity for broader public health engagement.